the Palsie and Vertigo of the Head Chap. 28. A Precious Water for the Head Brain and Memory c. THis following Water was found out by a learned German it is an excellent and noble Water of Life having many egregious operations to comfort and preserve the whole body from Diseases especially the Head Brain and all the inward parts of the Head to expel and dissolve all infirmities proceeding from coldness and moisture to exhilerate the Instruments of the Soul and quicken the five Senses for it marvellously comforts the four pincipal Members with the Reins and Intestines It procures also the best digestion in the Stomach gives great comfort to the outward Members by its onely odour by taking one part of this Water and two parts of the Water of of Sage Lavander and Rosemary mixed together and wet a spunge therein and foment the Members therewith morning and evening and let it dry in of it self Or if you drink three or four drops thereof in a glass of Wine a little before dinner or supper it comforts the Stomach It is good also to comfort the Head take of this Water one dram with half an ounce of betony-Betony-Water and drink it morning and evening or dip a Crust of Bread in that Water and eat it every morning fasting For the Brain and Memory take of this Water one dram Waters of Rosemary and Marjoram of each half an ounce and use it in like manner as he last For the Breast take of this Water one dram Water of Hysop and Maiden-hair each two drams use it in like manner For the Heart take of this Water one dram of Borage and Bugloss Water each two drams take it as the former For the Stomach take of this Water one dram of Mint and Wormwood-water each two drams use it in manner aforesaid For the Lungs take of this Water one dram adde to it Cycory-Water one ounce and use it as the former For the Spleen take of this Water one dram Waters of Tamarisk and Scolopendrie of each one ounce use it in like manner To comfort all the Members of the Body use one part of this Water in four parts of Wine The way to make this Water is thus Take pul Diamargarit frigid Diarrhodon Abbatis species Diambrae Dianthos laetificans Galleni an two drams Cassiae fistulae noviter extract Zacchari candidi an half an ounce Syrup de Liqueritiâ one ounce Syrup Stechados half an ounce florum R rismarini one dram Moschi Alexandrini one scruple Upon these Species pour two pound of simple Aqua vitae well rectified by a treble distillation in Balneg Mariae distil them in Balneo Mariae with a gentle fire so that you may tell six or seven between every drop the Musk ought to be tied in a piece of Silk and put into the vial with the distilled water and is not to be distilled with the rest Some putrifie with the aforesaid Species Bugloss-water one pound Balm-water half a pound Rosemary-water two ounces and afterwards distil it in Balneo Mariae Chap. 29. To make a Celestial Precious Water called the Secret of Secrets WE come now to declare unto you the Secret of Secrets a most precious Water called Celestial by the Philosophers because of its heavenly operation the way to make it is thus Take Salviae cum floribus suis Rorismarini Darseni Zinzib albi Garioph Nucis Muscatae gran Paradisi Galangae Calami Aromatici Macro-pip Zedoar an half an ounce Macis Cardamoni Cubeb fol. Rutae fol. Majoranae flor Lavendulae Ros Rub. an two drams Theriac Andromachi Mithridat an a dram and a half Ol. Laurini cort Citri florum Buglossae Borraginis Rorismarini Angelicae Rapentici gran Juniperi Mentastri Menthae Matricariae an a dram and a half Castorei verbeciae cum flor suis Betonicae Ligni Aloes Spicae Indicae gran Peoniae seminis Feniculi Ceori an half a dram Ambrae Moschi an half a scruple Let all these things following be put to digest with Aqua vitae in Balneo Maria four dayes and as many nights viz. Sage Rosemary Rue Marjoram Lavander Roses Mithridate Treacle Oyl of Bayes Bugloss Borrage Angelica Rapontick Juniper-berries Mint Calamint Mother-wort Vervain Betony Castoreum And when they are putrified distil them in a Limbeck in ashes with a gentle fire so that you may number one two three between every drop when these are distilled take the other things viz. Cinamon Mace Nutmegs Grains of paradise Galangal Calamus Aromat Pepper Zedory Cubebs Cardamomi Lignum Aloes Citron Pills Spikenard Piony-roots and seeds Coriander prepared pulverize all these grosly and put them into the distilled water and let them digest together fourten dayes then distil them again by an Alimbeck in Balneo Mariae afterwards adde the Camphire Rhubarb Saffron Amber and Musk. If you would have the water yet better and more costly adde Pul. Diamargarit Nicholai Diapliris cum moscho Nicholai Diarrhodon Abbatis Diamoschi Mesnae Spec. Diambrae Letificans Galeni pul Dialigni Aloes an half a dram adde twenty leaves of Gold white Sugar half a pound let them stand three dayes in Balneo Mariae keeping the water of the Bath warm afterwards distil it by filter in glass Retorts let one glass stand somewhat higher then the other cut small forms of a filter and hang therein and by them the matter will be distilled let the glass be well luted that no Air may evapâ—rate and this is the most excellent way of distillation of all others There are some Physicians who to comfort the Stomach have invented a green water which they use with the Aqua viae above prescribed or with the Claret following The green water is made on this manner Take Aqua vitae four times distilled by an Alimbeck in Balneo Mariae four pound Balm dryed three ounces Balsamint two ounces infuse the Herbs in the Aqua vitae eight dayes and then use thereof Note that the Herbs are not to be dryed in the Sun for then the water will be obscure but in the shade and the water will be of a fair green colour and pleasant to the drinker The Claret is made in this manner Take of the best white Wine four pound fine hard Sugar four ounces Cinamon one ounce Coryander prepared three drams Cloves two drams Grains of Paradise and white Ginger of each one dram and a half black Pepper two scruples Zedory half a dram Make them all into powder and afterwards use it as you make Hypocras This some use to take with the Water before prescribed The Vertues of this Water are these IT is good for the memory taking every day half an ounce mixed with Rosemary-water half an ounce water of Marjoram and Balm of each two drams For madness or grief in the brain proceeding from cold take of this water half an ounce Betony-water two drams dip a Linnen cloth therein and apply it to the head For the Vertigo of the head take hereof half an ounce water of
afterwards circulate it in a pellican forty dayes and reserve it for your use others distil it oftner and it is the better Chap. 21. To make an Aqua vitae Composita for men of a cold Complexion or Region HAving already discoursed at large of Aqua vitae Simplex we now proceed to give you the way of preparing several compound waters and first of such as ought to be administred unto men of a cold complexion or unto such as labour under any disease proceeding from a cold cause which is this Take Zuiziberis albi Cinamomi Cubeb Recent Gariâ—ph Nucis Muscati Macis electi Cardamomi Zedoari Galangae Piperis longi of each equal parts bruise them grosly and to one part of these Species adde six parts of simple Aqua vitae put them in a long Cucurbite placing thereon a blinde Alimbeck and let it stand to digest fourteen dayes afterwards distil in Balneo Mariae with a gentle fire then put the feces again upon the distilled matter and let it digest eight dayes more It may also be distilled without an Alimbeck but that way is not so good And when it hath been distilled three times the first water is called Aqua benedicta the second Aqua vitae composita and the third Aqua balsami Some also adde to the composition hereof Fol. salviae Rutae Castorei recentis Corticis Citri Baccarum lauri Florum Lavendulae Florum Rorismarini ana two drams these are all to be distilled with the aforesaid species alwayes adding to one part of species six parts of simple Aqua vitae This water is good for all diseases of the head proceeding from phlegmatick humors to be taken in the morning the quantity of two drams in one ounce of the best Wine Some use to dip a crust of bread in this water and others to anoint the head with this water adding to half an ounce hereof Betony water one ounce But beware that you do not give this water in any disease or grief of the head proceeding from a hot cause unless some cold Medicine be mixed therewith which may temperate the heat of this water This water doth strengthen the memory being drunk fasting the quantity of half an ounce mixed with Rosemary water and the hinder part of the head being anointed or washed therewith and let dry of it self it is good also against madness if you cut off the hair of the head and apply to the head clothes wet in this water mixed with water of Marjoram and Rosemary you shall perceive a wonderful operation It is also good for the Palsie being mixed with Sage-water and the members often bathed therewith and it being drunk upon an empty stomach with water of Lavander-flowers It is good to take away all spots of the face and all infirmities of the eyes It hath a marvellous operation to take away all pains in the Teeth A Comb being dipped herein and the head combed therewith it adorns the hair and preserves them from becoming hairy it cures all scabs in the head recovers lost hearing Bombast being dipped therein and applied to the Ear. Wounds being washed therewith it heals them wonderfully and suffers no putrified flesh in a Wound Being taken fasting it is powerful against all Poyson against all Cankers Fistula's and the Dropsie and the Stone in the Bladder it helps Conception in a Woman being taken fasting if the obstruction thereof proceed from a cold cause Being drunk with Galangal and Gentiana and Bombaste wet therein and applied to the Matrix provokes the Tearms If this Water be put upon Fish Flesh or any other Meats they will not corrupt nor putrifie neither will flies blow thereon If the body be fomented therewith it is good against the Jaundies and all trembling of the Members and against all filthiness of the mouth and nose A Cloath being dipt herein and applied to the Stomach wonderfully helps digestion A Cloath wet therein and applied to the Stomach helps Convulsion fits Let those who labor under the Iliack passion drink often thereof it is good also against the Falling-sickness and the Hemerhodes It is much praised by Albertus Magnus for its wonderful operations in the Palsie Chap. 22. An excellent Compound Water used by the Emperour Frederick the Third TAke Aq. Vita simp rectificat four pound vini opt four pound Cinamomi three ounces Garioph nucis moscatae ana one ounce Zuizib albi one ounce and half Macis half an ounce Zedoariae half an ounce Galangae 2. drams Cubeb Hys an half an ounce Radicis benedictae 1. ounce Salviae florum Lavendulae an half an ounce Melissae iris Balsamithae an one ounce Rosarum albarum one ounce and half Bruise all these and put them in a great Cucurbite which will hold fifteen or sixteen pound adding Zachari albi three ounces Passular ficuum pinguium an six ounces Camphorae half an ounce Aquar Rosarum Endiviae florum Sambuci an two pound put them altogether into the Cucurbite luting it well and set it in the â—un twenty dayes viz. ten dayes before Midsummer day and ten dayes after Then strain out the water and distil it by an Alembick and keep it in a dry place it is a soveraign Cordial for a cold stomach and wonderfully preserves the whose body in health The Dose is the quantity of half a spoonful but let it not be given to a Woman when she hath her Menstrue Chap. 23. An excellent Compound Water against all Vlcers and Poyson c. TAke Salviae twelve ounces Nucis Muscat Gariop Zuizib albi Gran. Paradisi Cinamomi an four drams Ol. Laurini one ounce Castorei recentis one dram Spinae Indicae Rorismarini an half a dram florum Rorismar one dram Folior Rutae one ounce Fol. Majoranae one dram Corticis Citri two drams Let all these be new if you can get them but if you have them not new then take the old dried flowers and pulverize them and put to them the best white Wine you can get then set them in a digestive to putrifie a moneth This digestion may be made in Balneo Mariae in the first degree of heat afterwards distil it by an Alimbeck in Balneo Mariae then adde the water again to the Feces and distil it in Balneo again twice over afterwards distil it in ashes and reserve the water carefully in a glass close stopt The Vertues of this Water ANy Meat wet in this Water retains an excellent sapour and odour It is good against pestilentious airs and expels the venom thereof out of the body it cures all infirmities of the Eyes and defects of the Sight It marvellously cures Wounds they being washed therewith it dryeth up all hidropical humors It is good against all diseases of the Lungs Spleen and Milt of the intestines and of the head it takes away all spots out of the face filth of the Mouth and Nose mitigates the pain of the Teeth procures good digestion purifies the blood and consumes corrupt blood and
wonderfully comforts and strengthens the memory This water also preserves youth makes a mix them together and make therewith a pastâ— of the Bole let it dry and powder it again anâ— make paste thereof again with the same waters repeating this over three times and thuâ— you have the Bole-Armonick prepared Chap. 25. A precious water used by the Count Palatine TAke Salviae recentis one ounce and halâ— Nucis moscatae Macis of each one ouncâ— Zinzib albi one ounce and half Gran. Parâ—disi six drams Cinamomi one ounce and an halâ— Zedoariae Galangae an half an ounce Camphorâ— two drams Rorismarini sem Feniculi of eacâ— one ounce and an half Lavendulae Marjoraâ— Rute of each one ounce Florum Camomilae oâ— ounce Matricariae two drams Rosarum ruâ—m 1. Betonicae one ounce Abrotani four dramâ— Castorei recentis one dram Spicae Indicae twâ— drams Macro-piperis one ounce Olei Laurâ— two drams Aqua vitae one pound and an halâ— Menthae Menchastri of each two drams Powder what is to be powdred cut thaâ— which is to be cut and bruise those thingâ— which are to be bruised and put them all in Cucurbite with a long neck then pour there upon eight pounds of the best Wine close uâ— the vessel and bury it in the Earth thirty dayeâ— then take it up and put it in another Cucurbitâ— placing thereon a Limbeck and distil it in Baâ—neo Mariae three times over alwayes puttinâ— the distilled water again upon the feces A◠〈…〉 you come to distil it the fourth time adde a good quantity of Sage-leaves fresh gathered And when it is so distilled reserve it for your use the older it is the better it is you may use it when you please it hath innumerable vertues against all distempers and infirmities of the body Chap. 26. A precious Compound Water of Life which may be used instead of a natural Balsom TAke Trupentine purified and washed in the best white Wine twelve ounces Honey also clarified with white Wine three pound mix them altogether then adde of Aqua vitae well rectified four pound put them in a Cucurbite afterwards take the Herbs hereafter named cut them small and adde them to the rest in the Cucurbite let them stand so eight dayes the vessel being well luted that it evaporate not afterwards distil it in ashes with great dilligence The Herbs are these Take Buglossae Boraginis Melissae Salviae Lavendulae an m. 1. Hissopi Florum Camomilae Card. Benedicti of each half a handful Rorismarini two handfuls Artemisiae half a handful When these things are distilled then adde these things following well powdred and set them to digest in horse-dung eight dayes or in Balneo three dayes The things which are to be added are these Take Ligni Aloes Xylobalsami Santalorum trium Calami Aromatici Stichados Arabici seminis Citri sileris montani Cimini of each one dram Macis Nucis muscatae Cinamomi electi Garioph Galangae Cubeb Zinzib albi Macro-piperis Croci orientalis Gran. Paradisi Cardamomi minoris an three drams Coriandri praeparati gran Juniperi Bacc. Lauri an half an ounce Bistortae six drams sem Feniculi Liqueritiae Visci quercini sem Anisi an one ounce Amigdal mundalarum passularum recent an one pound Take the glass or distillatory in which the matter is and set it in ashes well luting of it and make thereunto a gentle fire the space of four hours And when you see a clear water pass forth into the receiver take away that receiver and put thereto another luting it well as before and increase the fire until there distil forth a Cytrine Oyl into the receiver which reserve by it self Thirdly when you perceive a black Oyl begin to appear take away that receiver and adde another in which receive the black oyl till it be all distilled which Oyl keep by it self The first water ought to be thus prepared by putting into it Musk and Amber of each one dram leaves of Gold one scruple To comfort all the members of the body Take of Malmsey Wine one ounce adde thereto a spoonful of the first water mix them together till it turn white like Milk drink it fasting and fast two hours after it it wonderfully comforts and fortifies the whole body For pain in the head take one spoonful of the said water in water of Betony it comforts and strengthens the Lungs being taken in Winter-time with Mulbery-water or sage water but in Summer-time take of Endive-water one ounce and of this water one spoonful For infirmities of the Breast and a cold Cough proceeding from a Catarre take of Hyssop-water Borrage or Fennel-water mix them with the aforesaid water For the heart Take Bugloss or Borrage water half an ounce as much of the aforesaid water and as much Balme-water mix them and drink them fasting For the Stomach Give of this water in Mint or Wormwood-water For the Spleen Use the aforesaid water in water of Bugloss or Tamarisk For the Vertigo and Palsie Give the said water with Piony-water or water of the Herb and Root of Saint Johns-wort For the Stone in the Bladder Take Rhadish water one ounce and too spoonfulls of this water For the Strangury Take water of Cresces Parsley or Saxifrage one ounce and one spoonful of this water For overflowing of the tearms Take water of Plantane and drink it morning and evening with one spoonful of this water To provoke the tearms Take Mugwort-water or Mugwort-seed with one spoonful of this water drink it about that time when the tearms are expected For Women who have received hurt by unskilful Midwives or such as cannot conceive by reason of the coldness of the matrix let them take one spoonful of this water in the morning fasting with water of Valerian Betony or Wilde Roses For the eyes Take water of Fennel and Eyebright of each half an ounce and of this water one dram drink it as aforesaid For Spots or Freckles of the face Take water of Bean-Flowers or pimpernel-Pimpernel-water one ounce and of this first water half an ounce mix them together and wash the face therewith morning and evening and drink of this water in Endive-water twice or thrice a week The second water which is Citrine and the third which is like black Oyl is excellent good against Fistula's Cancers and other Wounds and Sores and may be used instead of a Balsom Chap. 27. An Aqua vitae Composita Against the Vertigo of the Head and the Palsie TAke Salviae nine ounces Florum Lavendulae four ounces Hissopi Menthae an m. 2. Garioph Nucis Muscatae Cinamomi Zinzib albi Granorum Paradisi Zedoariae Galangae an half an ounce Calami Aromataci one ounce Cran. Juniperi one ounce Granorun Peoniae half an ounce Vini albi eight pound Digest them in horse-dung eight dayes or four dayes in Balneo Mariae afterwards distil them in an Alembick and reserve it for use in a glass close stopt it hath a wonderfull operation against
CVLPEPER'S School of Physick OR THE Experimental Practice of the whole Art Wherein are contained all inward Diseases from the Head to the Foot with their proper and effectuall Cures such Diet set down as ought to be observed in Sickness or in Health With other safe wayes for preserving of Life in excellent Aphorismes and approved Medicines so plainly and easily treated of that the Free-born Student rightly understanding this Method may judge of the Practice of Physick so far as it concernes himself or the Cure of others c. A Work never before Publisht very necessary for all that desire to be rightly informed in Physick Chyrurgery Chymistry c. Nosce teipsum By Nich. Culpeper late Student in Physick and Astrology The Narrative of the Authors Life is prefixed with his Nativity Calculated together with the Testimony of his late Wife Mrs. Alice Culpeper and 〈◊〉 The general Contents of this Work are in the next 〈◊〉 With two perfect Tables very useful to the 〈◊〉 London Printed for N. Brook at the Angel in Cornhill 1659. The general Contents of the several Treatises 1. THe School of Physick or the English Apothecary a Treatise of the transcendent sufficiency of our English Herbs as they may be rightly used in Medicine being a brief account of the whole concernment of the Herbary Art as also the excellency of our English home Physick p. 1. 2. The Sovereign Vertues of Carduus Benedictus in English The Blessed Thistle which for the operation and great efficacy that God hath given to it may be rightly so named as also of the rare Vertues of Angelica p. 71. 3. Fragmenta Aurea Four Golden Centuries of Chymical Physical Judicial Aphorismes and Admirable Secrets p. 87. 4. The Garden Plat or a very brief account of such Herbs c. that excel and are some of them most useful in Physical and Chyrurgical Cures on emergent and sudden occasions p. 156. 5. The Celestial Governours or a Discourse in which is pâ—â—iny declared what Members of the Body are governed by the twelve Signs and of the Diseases to them appropriate p. 182. 6. How the Members of the Body are governed by the seven Planets and of the Diseases to them appropriate p. â—8â— 7. Cardiaca Simplicia a brief Account of 〈◊〉 Choice Simples as are chiefly appropriate to the Hearâ— A Treatise left unfinisht by the Author p. 186. 8. The Chyrurgeons Guide or the Eâ—â—â—â—â— of some Vnskilful Practicioners in Chyrâ— corrected p â—â—5 9. Phlebotomy displayed or perfect Ru◠〈◊〉 the letting of Blood p. 214. 10. Vrinal Conjectures brief Observations with some probable Predictions on the sick Patients Stale or Water p. 222. 11. The Treasury of Life or Salves for every Sore experienced and tried Receipts for the Cure of the most usual Diseases that our frail Bodies are most subject to whilest we remain in this Life p. 229. 12. The Expert Lapidary or a Physical Treatise of the secret Vertues of Stones p. 263. 13. Doctor Diets Directory or the Physicians Vade Mecum short but safe Rules to preserve Health in a Methodical way passing by the impertinences and niceties of former Physicians treating onely of familiar and the most useful things in Diet which chiefly nourish and maintain Life 279. 14 Doctor Reason and Doctor Experience consulted with or the mystery of the Skill of Physick made easie short clear and certain Rules how to perceive judge and determine what any usual Disease is from the parts of the body affected the Causes Signs or Symptomes collected from the most approved Authors and constantly practised by Mr. Nicholas Culpeper p. 345. 15. Chymical Institutions discovering Natures choice Secrets in experienced Chymical Practice shewing the several degrees of Progression in the Physical Cabinet of that Art p. 405 M rs Alice Culpepers Testimony and Approbation of this Book Ingenious Reader HAving an Orphan or Posthumus in my protection and being sollicited by divers for the propagation of the publick good in its Publication for its better entertainment I appeare to tell the World it is a Legitimate Childe of Mr. Nicholas Culpeper my deceased Husband And as I promise you it is the Genuine and Ingenious Off-spring of his Brain so I question not it will with the rest of his laborious Pieces help to blow louder the Trumpet of his never dying Fame I need not much endeavoar to attest that this Tractate is his for it will evidently appear at first sight that it is the Childe of such a Father which will be commendation enough both for the one and the other and that is the reason I refused to seek a Patron for it since I know his bare Name will sufficiently serve for a Patronage I follow the new Mode of the Times by disallowing of Godfathers yet the Bookseller thought it inconvenient that this Treatise should wander up and down the World without a Name and therefore it is Christned The School of Physick If it shall please any one to cast their affections on this Fatherless Childe him shall I esteem as my Gossip Expect from me to say no more at present because I would willingly cross an old Saying Women are never silent till dead I am in in all vertuous Endeavours for the Publique Good Yours ALICE CULPEPER Novemb. 15. 1658. From my House in Spittle-fields next Door to the Red Lion The Preface To all Students in Physick Chyrurgery and Chymestry THough that those which look for an eternall life set but light by a temporary as they are truly sensible here below to meet with a mass and accumulation of sins and sorrows nevertheless since we finde long life to be one of those blessings so often promised in the old Law as also that the beloved Disciple of our blessed Saviour survived the other Disciples and many of the Fathers of the Church were long lived we Mortals as we are too prone on Earth to esteem it our chiefest good cannot at least but enroll it amongst others of the choice and great favours we receive from Heaven The old saying is Vita brevis Ars longa Life is short and Art is long therefore in all ages it hath been the ambitious task of Learned men if it were possible to perfect Art so as to prolong life even to the length of dayes indeed the best of them found there inquiries too difficult some of them having carefully scrutinized and searcht the matter of the reparation but none yet living ever attained to the manner it being an agreed of Truth that in the declining of age there is an unequal reparation some parts are repaired easily some with difficulty and loss the Spirits Blood Flesh and Fat are even after the declining of years easily repaired but the drier and more poreous parts the Membranes all the Tunicles Sinnews Arteries Veins Bones Cartilages most of the Bowels in a word all the organical parts are hardly repairable and to their loss Now these hardly repairable parts to use the same words of one of the
English it is as thâ— Latine word soundeth we may call it Herb Aâ—gel or The Angelical or Angel-like Herb. 〈◊〉 what occasion this excellent name was first giâ—â— unto it I know not unless it were for the â—â—cellent Vertues thereof or for that God made 〈◊〉 known to man by the ministry of an Angel I suppose the former cause rather to be true howsoever as I am not able to prove the other so I think no man can give any good reason to the contrary For this we know that God hath made his Angels ministring Spirits to serve us for the safeguard of our souls and also of our bodies But upon what occasion soever the name was given it is excellent and so are the properties Angelica is hot and dry at least in the third degree All the later Writers agree upon this and experience proveth the same that it is gooâ— against Poison pestilent Airs and the Pestilence it self The Practicioners of Germany writâ— thus of it If any man be suddenly taken either with the Pestilence or with any Pestilent Ague with too much sweating let him drink of the powder of the root half a dram mingled with a dram of Tâ—eacle in three or four spoonfuls of the water of Angelica distilled from the roots and after his going to bed covering himself well â—t him fast at the least three hours after which if he do he will begin to sweat and by â—he help of God he shall be cured of his disâ—ase For lack of Treacle one may take a whole â—ram of the Root of Angelica in powder with 〈◊〉 much of the distilled Water as aforesaid 〈◊〉 â—ill have the same effect The Root of Angelica well steeped in Vineâ—â—r and smelt to in time of the Pestilence 〈◊〉 the same Vinegar being sometime drunk â—â—ing preserveth from infection But in my â—â—dgement it is better to take an Orenge or â—emon cut off the top pick out the meat prick full of small holes put into it a piece of spunge 〈◊〉 fine linen cloth dipped in the foresaid Vineâ—â—r and smell unto it The water distilled out of the roots of Anâ—â—lica or the powder of the same is good against â—â—awing and pains of the belly occasioned with â—â—ld if the body be not bound withall It is â—od against all inward diseases as the Pleurisie 〈◊〉 the beginning before the heat of the inflamaâ—â—â—n be come into the body for that it dissolveth 〈◊〉 scattereth abroad such humors as use to cause â—â—e Pleurisie Moreover it is good for the disâ—ases 〈◊〉 the Lungs if they come of a cold cause and 〈◊〉 the Strangurian if from a cold cause or of a â—â—pping It is good for a woman that is in traâ—â— It expelleth winde that is in the body and â—eth the pain that cometh from the fame The 〈◊〉 â—t may be sod in wine or water as the nature â—he sick requireth The juice of the root put into an hollow tooth taketh away the ache the same effect hath the distilled water being put in at the ear The juice and water of Angelica quickens the eye sight and breaks the little films that cover the eyes causing darkness of the sight Of the roots of Angelica and Pitch may be made a good Emplaister against the bitings of mad beasts The water the juyce or the powder of this root sprinkled upon the diseased place 〈◊〉 a very good remedy against old and deep foreâ—â— For they do scour and clense them and cover the bones with flesh The water of the same in a cold cause is good to be laid on places diseased with the Gout and Sciatica For it stancheth the pain and melteth away the tough humors that are gathered together The seed is of like vertue with the root The wilde Angelica that groweth here in the low woods and by the water-side is not of such vertue as the other is howbeit the Chyrurgeons use to seethe the root of it in Wine to heal green wounds Thesâ— properties I have gathered out of Germanâ— Writers I have not as yet proved them all mâ— self but divers of them I have proved and havâ— found them to be true I have set down thâ— pill of an Orange or Lemmon the meâ—â— whereof is also commended by Physicians to bâ— both a preservative good against poison anâ— the infection of the Pestilence Late Writers affirm that the roots of Angelica are opposite to all poison and infectioâ— If any be infected with the plague or poisoneâ— they give him immediately to drink a dram of the powder of this root with Wine in the winter and in summer with distilled water of Carduus benedictus then get him to bed and cover him until he have sweat foundly The same root being taken fasting in the morning or but held in the mouth doth keep and preserve the body from the evil of the air The leaves of Angelica pounded with the leaves of Rue and Honey are very good to be laid to the bitings of mad dogs presently taken after the hurt the Wine being drunk wherein the root or leaves of Angelica hath been boiled To conclude I have thought good to write of these Herbs Carduus Benedictus and Angelica either because they are not known to many or else that Artists would have their secret vertues concealed But I do not think it fit that any thing should be secret which may be profitable for my Countrey For God hath not made any thing for the use of a few but for the commodity of all men And we that are the children of God ought to frame our selves so that we may be like affectioned unto our Father who is beneficial to all men who hath made his sun to shine and his rain to rain upon the wicked as well as upon the good that is to say who feedeth all both good and bad by heat and moisture which proceed from the Sun and the rain all things grow upon the earth whereby our lives are maintained I conclude that forasmuch as Almighty God is good unto all men we ought to be like minded and not to keep secret nor to hide any thing that may profit one another I wish all men rightly to use the good creatures of God and to give him hearty thanks for all his benefits Fragmenta Aurea The first Golden CENTURY OF Chymicall and Physicall Judiciall APHORISMES AND Admirable Secrets BY Nich. Culpeper Gent. late Student in Physick and Astrology LONDON Printed for Nath. Brook at the Sign of the Angel in Cornhill 1659. Fragmenta aurea The first Golden Century of Chymical and Physical Judicial Aphorismes and admirable Secrets 1. THe Hoofs of the forefeet of a Cow dryed and taken any way Mizaldus increase milk in Nurses the smoke of them being burnt drives away Mice 2. If you fry Earth-worms in Goose-grease and drop a drop or two of the Grease warm being strained in your ear helps the pains thereof I suppose you had best first slit them and wash them in white wine 3. The
beaten into powder of them every morning fasting in white wine to one that is bursten and let him fast an hour after and if that cure hâ—â— not give him nine more 34. Knotgrass is an herb of the 〈◊〉 Mizaldus and cures diseases of the heart and back stone-cholick burstness and resisteth the pestilence 35. The paring of an Apple cut sâ—mewhat thick and the inside laid to eyes troubled with a hot Rheum and bound on at night when they go to bed gives speedy help contrary to expectation 36. They say Piece-grease such as is fried out of Shoe-makers Leather is an excellent remedy for the Gout 37. Shell-snails dryed in an oven and a drachm of the powder of them taken at a time doth in nine or ten dayes cure the black Jaundies It must be taken in Ale in the morning fasting 38. Butter Aqua vitae and Beasts Gall of each a like quantity mixed together cures any Ache or Stitch being anointed with it every morning and evening 39. Galen Gesner The powder of mans bones cure the Falling-sickness according to Galen but Gesner avoucheth he hath done it often with the * Cranium humanum Scull of a man not buried which is the most probable although the other may be true 40. The powder of Stone-pitch given in small Beer two or three mornings together is a notable remedy for such as are bruised and cheap enough too 41. The root of Vervine hanged about the neck of one that hath the Kings-evil gives a strange and unhoped for cure The reason of it is because Vervine is the herb of Venus and Taurus is her house For the time of gathering this and other Herbs I refer you to other Treatises where the matter is particularly handled 42. The tender horns of Bucks Cribonius largus whilest they be covered with a thin hairy skin being sliced and put into a new pot well covered and so dryed in an oven that they may be beaten into powder and some of it given in wine with pepper and mirrhe gives speedy ease for the Chollick 43. Pains of the Bladder and Cods as also the Chollick will be cured if you apply to it once or twice Pellitory of the wall bruised 44. A Hedge-sparrow is of a notable vertue Aetius Egeneta Mizaldus and Experience for the guts detracted and the feathers taken off and so either kept in Salt or converted into Mummy and eaten the Birds I mean not the guts nor feathers it will break the stone either in the Reins or Bladder and bring it forth 45. The Roots of white Lillies boiled in water â—nd the Face washed with the water takes away â—he redness thereof 46. Mizaldus Galen A green jasper hung about the neck of one that hath a weak stomach so that it touch the skin near the region of the mouth of the stomach doth wonderfully strengthen it 47. If you stamp Hariff a little and lay it in soak in spring-water four and twenty hours and then wash any scald or scabby place with it quickly heals it 48. If you boil Parsley and Time well in white wine and in a draught of it put a spoonful of white Sope I suppose Castle sope scraped small and this being drunk up causeth one speedily to make water and is a precious medicine for the Stone 49. Arnoldus Carduus Benedictus stamped and boiled with Barrows-grease Wine and Wheat-flour to an Ointment this is so sovereign that it cures all Ulcers Fistula's and Sores yea though the very Bones be bare 50. Mizaldus A handful of Mugwort stamped and boiled in sweet Sallet-oyl till the juyce be consumed makes an oyl which gives speedy ease to the Gout 51. If your nose bleed on the right side crush the little finger of the right hand Mizaldus if on the leâ—â— side of the left hand and it will cease 52. If you give ten grains of red Corrall in â—owder to a Childe in Breast-Milk for the â—rst sustenance it takes Arnoldus de villâ novâ and it will never â—e troubled with the Falling Sicknesse It â—ems by this it mightily strengthens the â—rain 53. There is an Herb called Speregrass Cupton stamp 〈◊〉 and fill a Walnut-shell full of it and â—pply it to the place pained with the Gout â—nde it on and within six or eight hours it â—ill draw a Blister which cut and let out the â—ater and keep a Colewort-leaf to it till the â—alady be remedied this hath been known to â—re such as have been troubled with this disease â—enty years 54. Boyl the Lees of Oyl till half be consumed G. Vâ—rrâ— Caâ—o â—th which anoint the bottom-corners and feet 〈◊〉 a Chest or Press you put clothes in and 〈◊〉 Moths will trouble them but you had â—t let it be dry before you put your clothes 55. Take a handfull of green Rue gathered in hour of Sol he being strong ten Figs as â—ny Walnuts an ounce of Juniper-berries â—t all these well together with a little Bayâ— and take the quantity of a Hazel-nut â—ry morning it defends the body from â—ilence Poison or any Sickness even â—xtream old age Mithridates Mithreâ—ates was the Authour of it and therefore let him have the credit of it besides with this onely and the blessing of God upon it have I cured such of the Ptysick or Consumption of the Lungs that have been so weak they could not walk about a chamber without leading 56. Some men are so gross and fat that they can hardly walk or do any business let such eat three or four cloves of Garlick every morning with Bread and Butter and fast two hours after it and let their drink be water wherein Fennel hath been boiled it will in a very small time ease them 57. That which is shorn from Scarlet being well died and dried in an oven or otherwise that it may be beaten into powder and half a spoonful of the powder given at a time in red wine will quickly cure the Bloody-Flux 58. If you anoint your temples where the Arteries pass Simeon Sethi once a moneth with the gall of a Partridge it mightily strengthens the memory 59. Rhazis Albertus A Saphire tyed about the neck so as it toucâ— the Region of the heart preserves the beare from poison and the plague and abateth thâ— heat in Feavers and Agues 60. Petrus Hispanus The soles of the Feet rubbed with gooâ— Mustard helps forgetfulness and quickens tâ— motion A man might draw from hence that forgetful persons are usually dull 61. Seethe Ivy-berries in Vinegar and supyour mouth full of it as hot as you can and when it is cold spit it out again and take another sup and do likewise a few such sups will cure the pain of the Teeth 62. Also if you put a little Spirit of Vitriol into the pained tooth Which you may get done by a little Lint tyed to the top of a Bodkin or Wire it works the
Pains of the Spleen trouble a man most after meat 32. Egg-shells dried and beaten into powder and given in white wine break the stone 33. Mizaldus Mice-dung with the ashes of burnt Wasps and burnt Hazel-nuts made into an Ointment with vinegar of Roses do trimly deck a bald-â—ead with hairs being anointed with it 34. Six cloves of Garlike stamped and strained into a draught of Rhenish wine and drunk up is a present râ—medy for the stone strangury and chollick 35. Gather Elder-flowers on a Midsummer-day dry them and beat them into powder and take a spoonful of it in Borage-water every morning and evening it restores Youth and conserves it 36. Burn horsleaches into powder and mix them with vinegar and therewithal rub the place where you would have Hair grow no more and you shall have your desire 37. Drinking much Butter-milk makes one laxâ—â—ive 38. The stone of a Swallow beaten into powder Petrus Hispanus and given in drink to such as have the Falling-sickness cures them 39. Mingle two spoonfuls of water with one spoonful of clarified Honey and give it to a woman when she goeth to sleep if she feel gripings and pains in her belly she is conceived with childe else not 40. Green Nettles steeped in the urine of one that is sick twenty four hours Mizaldus if they remain green and fresh the sick will live else not 41. The berries of white Thorns taken in white Wine are of great force to break and expel the Stone 42. Plantane is given with good success to such as have the Plague 43. Wormwood stamped with the white of an egg and applied to the eyes by way of a Plaister is a notable way to take away the redness and bloodiness of them 44. A Garland made of Ivy-leaves Mizaldus laid to the breasts of women that hang flagging gathers them up together decently and makes them round the like will Ivy-leaves do if they be beaten and applied to them 45. Mizaldus If you wash wounds with Wine wherein Agrimony hath been sodden it cleanseth them of their filth and putrefaction 46. Also stamp Agrimony and apply it to wounds that are ill knit or joyned and it will open them again 47. Mizaldus The juyce of Rue mixed with clarified Honey and a drop dropped into the eye at a time takes away dimness of sight 48 A head of Garlick the skins being pulled off bruised and applied in equal parts to the foles of the feet where they are hollow helps them with speed that are pained with the Tooth-ache especially if it come of a cold cause and lie in the nether jaw 49. Mizaldus If you rub Warts with the leaves of a Fig-tree and bury the leaves in the earth the warts will insensibly consume away 50. Briony-berries dried and beaten into powder and drunk in the decoction of Water-cresses doth wonderfull help the Strangury 51. Benedictus Victorius Faventinus Emp. Take of venice Treacle one scruple of liquorice and Cinnamon in powder of each three grains of White Wine an ounce and an half mix all these together and make of them a Potion If a Woman take such a drink as this is every other morning about a fortnight or three weaks before her delivery it will make her labour very easie My Authour saith she will bring forth her childe without any pain at all 52. Take of Yarrow and Plantane of each a like quantity beat them and strain the juyce of them into red Wine a good draught of which being drunk morning and evening will stop a bloody Flux 53. If a Woman desire to know whether she be with childe or not Mizaldus let her make water in a clean copper or brazen vessel at night when she goes to bed and put a Nettle in it if the Nettle have red spots in it next morning she is with childe else not 54. Oxen Kine Bullocks or Horses Absertus will not be troubled with any disease if you hang a Harts-horn upon them 55. Put two or three of the seeds of Oculus Christi into your eye and within a while after you shall not feel them whereby you will think they are not there at last they will drop 〈◊〉 of themselves compassed about with slimy 〈◊〉 which doth hinder the sight If you 〈◊〉 this now and then it will clear your eyes wonderfully 56. Warts rubbed with a piece of raw Beef and the beef buried in the ground the warts will consume away as the beaf rots in the ground 57. Take the inner rinde of an Oak-tree and boil it well in fair water then bathe any sore with it whether new or old three or four times morning and evening and then anoint it with fresh butter and flour of brimstone well mixed and you shall see a speedy cure 58. Take a Bur-root the bigger the better and scrape it clean then put it in a Pot of new Ale and the Ale will boyl let it stand twenty four hours close stopped and then let one that hath the yellow Jaundies drink a good draught of it and in doing so two or three mornings he will be cured 59. Let him that hath the Strangury drink a draught of small Ale wherein the inner Rind of the young branches of a Hazel-tree hath been boiled first in the morning and last at night and it help him in few dayes 60. Lay a thin piece of raw beaf to the forehead of them that have lost their voices and remove it not all night and in two or three nights it will help them 61. Take the bones of Horses and wash them clean then dry them in the sun then break them and boil them in a Caldron of water a long time and save the fat which cometh from them which is an excellent Oyntment either for Gout or Palsie 62. The ashes of burnt Snails put into the eye take away the spots thereof 63. A piece of raw Beef of an indifferent thickness put in steep all day in good Aqua vitae and laid at night to the temples and let lie there all night stops the waterings of the eyes and all rheums that flow down from the head 64. Draw a coard through the tail of a Water-snake and hang her up Hollerius a vessel of water being under her into which she may gape and after a little time will she vomit up a stone which will drink up all the water this stone being tied to the navil in a piece of fine linnen of one that hath the Dropsie quickly draws out all the water 65. An Egg that is laid on a Thursday the white being emptied out and the empty place filled with salt and gently roasted by the fire without burning till it may be beaten into powder and cankered teeth being rubbed with it kills both canker and worms that eat the teeth 66. White Copperis the quantity of hâ—â—f an ounce dissolved in a pint of water kills all Tetters and ringworms that are washed with
them well and beat them into powder and give a little of the powder inwardly with Muskadel this is a gallant remedy for Children that will not endure any ill-tasted Medicine 30. For a looseness and Diabetes The Pizzle of an Hare dried and beaten into powder and the powder drunk in Wine at night going to bed you may give a dram at a time to a man half a dram is enough for a childe you shall finde it an excellent remedy not onely for a Looseness but also for the Diabetes 31. For the Diabetes The best remedy for a Diabetes that I know is this Take the Bladder of a Goat which I suppose to be best because it is a Beast of Saturn If you cannot get a Goats Bladder get a Bullocks or Sheeps Bladder dry it very well and beat it into powder and take a dram of the powder first in the morning and last at night 32. Caution to the former Receipt In my opinion it were very fitting in the fore-going Medicine that the Sphinater Muscle of the Bladder were by all meanes carefully dried and administred as before 33. Flux The Maw of a young Hare dried and beaten into powder and made up into Troches with juyce of Plantane and a little Gum Tragacanth is an excellent remedy to keep by you for the Flux and it also strengthens the Stomach exceedingly 34. To stop a Flux Take Plantane-seed and beat it to powder and give a drachm of the powder in red Wine to a childe that is troubled with the Flux and it will stop it 35. For a Flux Take the dung of a Stone-horse that is kept in a Stable and fry it in Muskadel and apply it being so fried to the Navel and it will stop any Flux of the belly whatsoever 36. For one that cannot go to stool Take Salt and Sope and mix them well together and apply them plaisterwise to the belly of one that cannot go to stool and it will move him to stool in a short time 37. Bloody Flux Take the Jaw-bones of a Pike or Jack beat them to powder and take half a drachm of the powder in red Wine morning and evening this hath been known to have helped the Bloody Flux when nothing else could do it 38. For the Bloody Flux Take red Beans and boil them in red Wine till it be thick and let the Patient eat of this morning and evening and in a short time it will help the Bloody Flux be it never so violent 39. For the Flux Take an old Apple cut off the top and pick out the coar then put into the hole a ball of Virgins-wax put on the top again and roast it in the embers mash it all together and take it inwardly as a Medicine for the Flux 40. To break the Stone The Urine of a Boar taken and drunk inwardly is an admirable remedy to break the Stone 41. Another to break the Stone Take the blood of a Fox and anoint the Region of the Bladder near to that place where the Stone lies and it will break the Stone 42. Another to break the Stone Also it is an excellent remedy to break the Stone to drink the blood of a Fox either alone by it self or mixed with white Wine And to make the truth of this appear clearly Caution take a Pebble-stone and put it into the blood of a Fox and it will dissolve it yet in my opinion and my opinion is grounded upon reason if the Stone lie in the Reins it is best to drink the blood of a Fox but for the Stone in the Bladder it is best to inject it with a Siringe 43. To break the Stone Bees dried stings and all and beaten into powder and a drachm of the powder given in white Wine is an excellent remedy for to break the Stone 44. To break the greatest Stone that is Take the green Weed that cometh from the Sea amongst the Oyster washed clean then dry it and beat it into powder drink two drachms of this with Muskadel in the morning fasting an hour after it it will break the greatest Stone that is 45. For the Stone Take Oyl of Christal drawn by the art of the Alchymist let him that is troubled with the Stone take a dram of it at a time in a good draught either of White or Rhennish Wine and it will break the Stone For proof of this take a stone and lay it in the urine of him that hath drunk this Medicine and in twelve hours it will be dissolved 46. Green Wounds The same Oyl of Chrystal is an excellent cure for any green wound 47. Stone Take a Goat and keep him three dayes fasting but you must be sure not to give him meat nor water in the night then put him into a great tub full of holes at the bottom and feed him with nothing but Cammomile Parsley Gromwel Celandine Saxifrage Hawthorn-berries or flowers give him Salt to lick and nothing but white Wine to drink save his water that runs through the holes of the tub into which water put Holly-berries Ivy-berries Hawthorn-berries Juniper-berries Parsley-seed Fennel-seed Gromwel-seed Smallage-seed the roots of Radishes and Nettles Knee-holly and Sparragas leaves of Water-cresses infuse all these warm in the Urine in a limbeck close stopped then distil it off this Water is held to be the most effectual for the Stone that is for three ounces of it taken at a time breaks the Stone and brings it away without pain 48. Sciatica For the Sciatica take a gallon of urine I suppose it were best of the party that is diseased boil it and scum it well till it be clear then put to it a quart of black Snails suâ—â— as you shall finde in the Meddows without sheâ—â—â— boil them together till it be thick like a Poltiss 〈◊〉 then spread it upon a cloath and apply it to the grieved place 49. Piles Take a quart of Linseed-Oyl and put as many live Crawfish into it as it will hold boil them in it a quarter of an hour then strain them out and bruise them well shells and all boil them well again in the Oyl then strain them out and keep the Oyl for an admirable remedy for the Piles you may use it by moistening a little cotten in it and binding it closs to the place with a truss 50. For the Piles Take Scabious and boil it well in water and let the party sit over the steem of the water that is troubled with the Piles and it will help him 51. For the Piles The Herb Pilewort either applied to the place in an Oyntment or taken inwardly is an approved remedy for the Piles 52. Many other remedies are used by Authours as namely to boil Elder-tops in white Wine and wash the place witâ— the decoction 53. Also to drink the juyce of Dandelion and Dazies in a cup of Ale every morning 54. An excellent remedy for the Piles Another remedy the conceit of which pleases me very well is this Take
nine drops of the strongest spirit given in any convenient liquor is an admirable remedy for the Convulsions With this I cured a childe lately that was not above a moneth old it had but one fit after the first taking of it then it sneezed much and recovered 14. A Caution And here give me leave to be a little critical against another vulgar custome and that is no Misleto must be used but what grows upon an Oak forsooth and I have proved by experience that it is all of a like vertue as being generated by the beams of the Sun upon what Tree soever Is an Apple ever the worse for being grafted upon a sower Crab-tree 15. Caution Yet this Caution let me give you have a care it touch not the ground for that good Philosophers hold takes away its vertue whether the reason be because it is appropriated to the head of a Man or because the Earth is Saturnline and therefore hinders the vertues of Sol I will not here dispute 16. For the bite of a mad Dog Let him that is bitten with a mad Dog drink either the juyce or decoction of Vervine every morning till the next new and full Moon be past 17. An Observation Observe this for a general rule all Creatures that are bitten with a mad Dog near the new Moon fall mad at the full and those that are bitten at full Moon fall mad at the new 18. To cure the biting of a mad Dog Take Vervine Agrimony and Plantane of each equal quantities bruise them and boil them in good white wine and let him that is bitten of a mad Dog drink a draught of the decoction every morning then take the Herbs and bruise them with Bay-salt and apply them to the wound 19. Ring-worm Take Featherfew and bruise it and rub any Tetter or Ring-worm with the juyce of it and it will kill it 20. Wen. An excellent way to cure a Wen is this take forty Snails and boil them in a pint of running water till half be consumed then let them stand and cool then take some Wool and dip it in the fattiness of the water and apply it to the Wen this will consume it insensibly in a short time especially if you take inwardly the following medicine 21. Take fine Jeat and beat it to powder and take half a dram inwardly in a little Ale or Pottage once in three or four mornings 22. Biting of an Adder The best way that I know for the biting of an Adder is this Catch the same Adder that bit you as she is easily caught cut her open and take out her heart and swallow it down whole 23. For the same Also cut off the head of the Adder and bruise it and apply it to the Wound both these together would give a cure to admiration 24. To expel an Adder being crept into the body If an Adder be crept into a mans body which is a thing though it happens but seldom yet it may happen therefore the cure is not amiss this do Take a handful of Rue and bruise it and boil it in the urine of the party and let him drink the decoction and it will make the Beast make more haste out then it did in 25. For the same If such a one be crept into the body of a Beast boil Rue in the urine of the Beast and force him to drink it 26. Winde in the Stomach Take Cummin-seeds two drams Galanga one dram make it up into Troches with Musfilage of Gum Tragacanth so have you an excellent remedy for Winde in the Stomach when you have occasion to use them take half a dram in powder in white wine in the morning fasting an hour after it 27. For the Plague Take of green Walnuts before they have shels of Rue and the inner rinds of Ash-tree of each equal quantities bruise them and infuse them well in white wine distil off the spirit in an alembick so have you a most sovereign remedy for the Plague 28. To draw the Venom out of a Plague Sore Take a Cock chicken pull off the feathers till the Rump be bare then hold the bare Fundament of the Chicken to a Plague Sore and it will attract the Venom to it from all parts of the body and dye when he is dead take another and use likewise you may perceive when all the Venom is drawn out for you shall see the Chicken no longer pant nor gape for breath the party sick will instantly recover 29. How to apply the foresaid Remedy to any part of the body I know no reason but why this may be very well used in the disease though there appear no rising at all it is an easie matter by the Symptoms to judge which of the principal parts is most afflicted then consider the purging places of the Liver are the Groins the purging places of the Heart are the Arm-pits the purging places of the Brain are behinde his Ears 30. Then take a live Pigeon if you cannot get a live Pigeon take a Chicken cut him asunder in the middle and clap the pieces hot to the purging places of the principal part afflicted 31. For a Rupture An excellent remedy for a Rupture is to take Oyl of Nep and dip well in it and binde it on to the place 32. To recover a new-born childe that hath any life in it When a childe is still-born if you perceive any life be in it when you cut the Navel string squeâ—ze out six or seven drops of blood into a spoon and give it to it inwardly and it will instantly fetch life in it again 34. I suppose the Arterial bood to be far better then the Venal blood in this case you may easily know the Artery in the Navel-string from the Vein because it looks whiter 35. Against the stopping of the Tearms in Women newly delivered Many times the Tearms stop in women so soon as they be delivered which costeth many women their lives in such cases take a dozen Peony-seeds and beat them into powder and let her drink them up in a draught of Carduus posset-drink and sweat after it if this do not the deed the first time give her as much more about three hours after 36. For the same The decoction of Vervine and stinking Arrash work the like effect 37. For a Felon Take a Snail out of his shell and chop it very small and binde it on to a Felon and it will instantly cure it 38. Foâ—â—he Sciatica An odd remedy for the Sciatica is this Take a handful of Nettles and sting all the place so far as the pain goeth till it be all blistered to the purpose and so let him go to bed and sleep if he can and the next day he will be well there have been those known to have been cured with this onely medicine that have been so bad they have not been able to stir out of their beds in five or six weeks 39. For the Convulsion A decoction of Clary drunk
through the back with a sharp knife pull out all the bowels and wipe him clean with a cloth break all the bones and put him into an Alimbeck and distil him with a pottle of Sack and as much red Cows Milk so will you have an excellent spirit for a Cough or Consumption of the Lungs if you take three or four spoonfuls of it in the morning fasting 65. For heat in the Reins Let such as are troubled with heat in the Reins lay to the place a fine cloth dipped in rose-Rose-water juyce of Plantane and the Milk of a Woman which brought forth a Girl 66. An excellent remedy for those that are subject to vomiting Take Wormwood Spearmints and red Rose-leaves of each a handful chop them small and boil them to a Poltiss with red Rose-water and Vinegar of each equal quantities thicken it with Rie-bread grated spread it upon a cloth and apply it to the Stomach of him that is subject to vomiting as hot as he can endure it 67. For an Ague of the Breast Let such Women as are troubled with that inflamation commonly called the Ague in the Breast apply to the place a fomentation made with Rosemary-tops boiled in their urine apply it hot for three or four hours and it will help it 68. For the running in the Reins The Marrow of an Oxes back being dried and beaten into powder and a dram of it taken in the morning in a little red Wine is an excellent remedy for the running of the Reins 69. To take away Freckles from the Hands or Face Such as are troubled with Freckles either upon their hands or face or Sun-burning may easily help themselves if they wash the place with a little juyce of Lemmons wherein Bay-salt hath been dissolved wash the place often and let it dry in of it self 70. Against any Swelling Take Cammomile-flowers and Rose-leaves of each a like quantity boil them in white Wine to a Poltiss and apply it as hot as can be suffered to a swelling and it will presently ease the pain and asswage the swelling 71. Against Deafness Stop the ears of one that is deaf with good dried Sewet it many times gives help when nothing else will 72. To stop bleeding Take powder of Earth-worms and put upon a Wound that bleeds and it will instantly stop the bleeding 73. For the same Take the ear of a Hare dry it and beat it to powder and put that powder upon a Wound and it will do the like 74. For him that spits Blood Take the juyce of Betony and temper two spoonfuls of it with four spoonfuls of good Milk and let him that spits blood drink the same quantity four mornings together and by that time he will be whole 75. For a Flux Let him that is troubled with the Flux take the seeds of Trefoyl bruise them well and drink half a dram of them in the morning fasting in white Wine if he be curable it will cure him in three dayes if he be not curable he knows the worst of it it is but dying 76. To stop the bleeding of a Vein being cut If a Vein be cut and you cannot stop the bleeding take Rue and boil it in water then stamp it and apply it to the place and binde some wool over that which was never washed 77. For Veins that are sprung For Veins that are sprung take Beans and husk them then boil them in vinegar and bruise them and apply them Plaister-wise to the place 78. For those that piss Blood Take Garlike bruise it and boil it in water till the third part be consumed a little of this water being drunk presently helps them that piss Blood 79. To cause easie Delivery Let a woman that is with childe and near her time drink a decoction of Betony every morning and she shall be delivered without much pain 80. For the same and to expel the after-birth A decoction of Hyssop made with water and drunk very hot giveth speedy delivery to women in travel yea though the Childe be dead in her womb so soon as she is delivered of a dead childe if you suppose any of the After-birth be left behinde let her keep drinking the same decoction till her body be cleansed 81. For the same Savory used in like manner hath the same effects 82. For the same Also another good remedy to give speedy delivery to women in travel is this Take wilde Tansie or Silver-weed and bruise it and apply it to her nostrils 83. For the same Also another remedy is to take the Roots of Polypodium and stamp them and apply them to the soles of the feet Plaister-wise the childe will quickly come away be it alive or dead 84. For a Surfeit Take the bottom of a wheaten-loaf tost it very well till it be dry and hard then dip it in good Spirit of Wine and wrap it up in a single linen cloth and apply it to the Brest of one that hath surfeited and cannot digest his meat apply it warm and let it lie to the place all night and it will speedily help him and cause him either to vomit up or purge out the evil humors which the Surfeit hath contracted in his body 85. To cure hot Rhume in the Eyes Take twelve or sixteen woodlice some call them sows or slugs wash them clean then stamp them and put three or four spoonfuls of Ale to them and mix them well together in a morter then strain it and let him that is troubled with a hot Rhume in his eyes drink it in the morning fasting and as much at night going to bed and in a few times using it will cure him 86. An admirable Poltiss for any swelling Take Violet-leaves Groundsel Mallows and Chickweed of each a handful chop these small and boil them well in water to a Poltiss thicken it with Barley-meal adding a little rough sheeps suet to it to make it moist so have you an admirable Poltiss for any swelling or inflamation in a wound or ulcer 87. For scabby Heads of Children Take white Wine and Butter of each a like weight boil them together till they come to a salve and you shall finde it an excellent Oyntment for Childrens scabby heads 88. For the Falling-sickness or Convulsion Take the dung of a Peacock dry it and beat it into very fine powder and give the party troubled either with the Falling-sickness or Convulsion so much of it at a time in Succory-water as will well lye upon a shilling if it be a child half so much will serve the turn or less if the childe be very young 89. To cure Tetters or Ring-worms An excellent way to cure Tetters and Ring-worms is to wash the place often with Tanners Woofs 90. Against the bloody Flux Take the bone of a Gammon of bacon set it an end in the middle of a Charcole fire and let it burn till it be as white as choak both in the outside and inside then take it and beat it to
powder and let the sick of the bloody Flux take a drachm of it at a time in Milk thickned with flour 91. Against Heat in the Reins An approved remedy for the heat in the Reins which is a thing causeth hard labour and many times abortion to women is to take a fine linnen cloth and dip it in Housleek warm it and apply it to the Reins 92. To ease a woman of her After-pains Take Tar and Barrows-grease of each equal quantities boil them together and in boiling adde a little Pigeons-dung to it spread some of it upon a linen cloth and apply it to the back of a woman newly delivered that is troubled with After-pains and it will give her ease 93. For the same Give a Woman that is troubled with After-pains pains half a dram of Bay-berries beaten in powder and given her to drink in a little Muskadel 94. To cure the swelling of the Cods Stamp Rue and apply it to the Cods that be swelled and it will presently asswage it 95. Take the juyce of Valerian and wet a tent in it and put it into the Wound where any piece of Iron is broken in and stamp the said herb and lay at top of it and it will speedily not onely draw out the iron but also speedily cure the Wound 96. To cure the biting of a mad Dog So soon as a man feels himself bit with a mad Dog or any other venemous Beasts or at least so soon as he can possible get it let him take green Fig-leaves and press out the juyce of them three or four times into the wound if it be at such a time of the year when Fig-trees have no leaves take the rinde of the Fig-tree and bruise it and â—pply it to the Wound 97. For the same They say Mustard made with good Vinegar and applied to the wound works the same effect 98. For a Wound So soon as a man is wounded let him wash the blood clean out of the Wound either with white-Wine or with his own Piss and presently put the juyce of Thapsus Barbatus into it 99. A medicine to drive out the small Pox. Take of distilled Taragon water eight spoonfuls and put thereto six grains of Bezar or Unicorns horn or for want of those two put so much Saffron but the other is the better let it be warm double the portion as you see cause taking nothing an hour before nor an hour after it 100. To avoid Phlegm Take clarified Posset-drink and put thereto sweet Butter the yolk of an Egg and a little small Ginger Hysop red Mints and Sugar seâ— these seethe all together and drink thereof first and last as warm as you can suffer it The Garden Plat OR A very brief account of such Herbs c that excel and are some ofâ— them most useful in Physical and Chyrurgical Cures on emergent and sudden occasions HOundstongue stamped and bruised heals several wounds The Powder of Butter-bur alias Pestilent-wort the leaves in Summer and Roots in Winter expelleth the Plague by sweat drunk in Ale Beer or Wine Fumitory stamped and drink the juyce in Ale Beer or Wine purgeth Choller and doth cleanse the Blood Germander stamped and drunk doth purge womens flowers and helps the Green-sickness Celandine or Fig-wort or Tetter-wort or Pile-wort or Swallow-wort or Marsh-marigold these doth help Tetters Ring-worms Piles and Eye-sight Eye-bright the water helpeth the eyes washed therewith and the Powder eaten with â—hâ— yolk of an Egg and Mace restoreth 〈◊〉 sight The roots of Psillependula beaten and drunk cures the Stone Water-bittary alias Brown-wort stamped and laid to helps old and new sores Pellitory of the Wall steeped and drunk cures the Stone Egremony stamped and drunk helps Lunatick persons Saint-Johns-wort St. Peters-wort and Tutson-leaves stamped helps old sores Mercury the Herb stamped and drunk purgeth women and weak folks Shepherds-purse or Sinkfield stamped and drunk helps the Flux and so doth Plantane and Knotgrass Scabious stamped and drunken helpeth inward Imposthumes Divels-bit stamped and drunken helps the Ague Spown-wort alias Scurvey-grass stamped and drunken helps Dropsies and Scurvey Sanicle stamped and drunk inwardly helpeth Wounds and laid to outwardly Comfrey helpeth the Ruptures stamped and drunken and laid to outwardly it helps wounds and joyns them together Hyssop boiled bruised and drunken helps the Lungs Mints bruised and drunken comforteth the Heart so doth Sage White Horehound or Balm distilled or otherwise helps inward grief Rue expelleth the Plague Fennel Dill and Anniseed and Cummin breaks winde and helps the Stone Saxifrage stampt and drunken and seeds of Gromwel helps Winde and Stone above all others Betony helps the head and stomach Lovage restores the Lungs Pellitory of Spain expelleth the Plague Three Leaves of Arsarabacca stampt and drunken purgeth upward and downward English green Tobacco stampt and mixt with fresh Butter will heal a wound a sore or a scabbed or scald head Dragon-wort stampt and drunken expelleth the Plague or distilled and so doth Arone or Priests-Pintle Cuckow-pintle Centaury purgeth Choller by siege and so doth Rheubarb Elina Campany purgeth melancholly The seeds of Piony helps the falling evil Valerian or Setwal expelleth the Plague stampt and drunken English Galangal comforteth the heart Helleborus called neezing powder purgeth the head Aloe alias Sea-green purgeth Choller Laurel-leaves laid in Vinegar twenty four hours and dried the powder drunk purgeth Choller Phlegm and Melancholly The root of Elder or Danewort stamped and drunken helpeth Dropsies or swoln Legs or Limbs All Elder-leaves Plantane leaves Elm-leaves or all Oak or green leaves stamped and laid to will heal a green wound Ground-Ivy boiled in water and laid to a sore will heal it Wilde Bugloss alias Carpenter-work bruised and laid to healeth the green wound Maiden-hair boiled and drunken heals the Lungs and inward parts Oyl of white Poppy anointed upon the forehead will cause one to sleep The seed of Henbane mixed in a Wax-candle and the mouth holden over when it burneth will draw the Worms out of ones Teeth Sea-holm-roots candied with Sugar called Iringo-roots will restore nature And the powder of them will break Winde and Stone being drunken Yellow Dock-roots boiled and drunken purgeth by Urine and siege Water-cresses stamped or boiled and drunken is good for the Stone Dropsie and Scurvey Tamarisk the small or the rinde of the great Tamarisk boiled and drunken helps the Spleen Barberies in conserve or sirup doth stop the Flux and cool the body Licorice helps the Stone Stomach and Winde Oranges and Lemons helps a hot Stomach in the burning Ague Distilled Water of Oak-leaves stops the Flux Misletoe of the Oak stamped and drunk helps the falling evil Ash-tree â—â—â—ll suffer no Spider or venemous thing to coâ—â—nder the shadow the leaves steeped in Wine and drunk will make one lean An Elder-leaf laid unto a mans feet that is chaffed in going between the Toes or other places will heal it Costemary alias Balsum-mint stampt and bruised will heal a Wound as fast
neither four dayes after but the three first quarters be good see that the Moon be in a good sign and from St. Bartholomew's tide to St. Peters tide till February let the Blood on the left Arm and in January on the right that is to say Spring or Summer from the twenty fifth day of July to the fifth of September let no Blood for then the Canicular dayes be after the teaching of Gallen and Avicenna Rules concerning Blood letting to be observed ALso be ye alwayes well advised and wary that ye let not Bloud nor open no Vein except the Moon be either in Aries Cancer the first half of Libra the last half of Scorpio or in Sagitarius Aquarius or Pisces Remembring also that you ought not to do it in the day of the changing nor in the day next before nor next after the same or when the sign is in the place where the inscision should be made neither in the heat of Summer as from the middle of July unto the middle of September nor in the cold time of Winter when there is much Frost and Snow except urgent necessity forceth you thereunto Also if you chuse out these signs following appointed unto each complection doubtless you shall do the better so that time and occasion will suffer it As thus Open a vein in the Phegmatick person when the Moon is in Aries saving in the Head In a Melanchollick Man the Moon being in the first half or fifteen degrees of Libra except in the Hips or when the Moon is in Aquarius saving in the Legs In a Chollerick body it is best to be let Blood what time the Moon is in Cancer saving in the Breast the last half of Scorpio saving in the Privy members or in Pisces saving in the Feet The Sanguine man may bleed in any of the aforesaid Signs so that he do it not what timâ— the Sign is in the Members or the Season inconvenient Therefore beware also ye Chyrurgeons that ye make no notable inscision as to cuâ— Ruptures take out the Stone in the Bladder devoid from the body any natural Excrescences Wens or Nodes to depart deplorate or rotten Members to root out the Canker in the Breast let out the water collected in the Belly through the Disease Ascites To be short to make an inscision or cautherization in any member or to remove the Catricle from the Eye or to attempt any other thing by natural working upon the body of man when the Sign governing the Sun is in the Members in which such attempts are to be made for the Remedy of these Diseases abovesaid or when the Lord of the Ascendant or first House is the same Sign that governeth part of the Body at that time or when there is any Oppositions Conjunctions or Quartile Aspects of Saturn and Mars or when any Planets is evil aspected unto another or when the Moon is in the Sign of Leo or in the day of the change or full except great necessity require it Moreover I would wish no inscision to be made about the full of the Moon whereafter any great Flux of Blood may be feared to ensue though the Sign be never so meet but rather let it be done in the Wane of the Moon As touching the Stone Ruptures Dropsies to be holpen by way of inscision I have rather mentioned them in this place because that the rude and ignorant Chyrurgeon may be brought to the true Practice and Knowledge hereof I doubt not but to make many partakers of the benefit thereof whose good intent I would wish either to follow in those attempts and so to use it in utter refuge when other means will take no place in that case it being a most assured Remedy for the time and due observations of letting Blood right well allowed and practised at all times Vrinal Conjectures Brief Observations with some Probable Predictions on the Sick Patients Stool or Water I Must acknowledge that in my Judgement I do in general as concerning the uncertainty of Urine concur with learned Dr. Read but not so as in some particularly evident and remarkable distempers wholly to slight the Urinals Prophesie I shall therefore onely set down some useful Observations and refer them to the Censure of sober and serious Practitioners Urine is the clearer and lighter part of Blood proceeding from the Reins which if endeavoured to be suppressed causes the Chollick or Stone At the first evacuation most Urines appear thin so long as they retain any heat which whilest it prevails suffers not the Urine to grow thick or congeals Sometimes the Patients Urine comes thicker from him afterwards clearer Some remain still as they were made those that have Urine clear will soon collect that which is thick into the bottom of the Urinal Others remain troubled the grosness notwithstanding gathâ—red in the bottom insomuch that these diversities of thin and subtle humours ought to be perceived of things conceived in the Urine Some descend to the bottom called in the Greek Hypostasis in English the Grounds which if white rising up from the bottom like a pear signifie health if of another colour some distemper if like things are seen in the middle of the Urinal they are called sublutions if they approach to the highest Region of the Urine they are in Latine called Nubilae in English Clouds the grounds and residences imperfect like little red Vetches in Latine called Orobea some like to Bran of ground Wheat severed from the Meal in Latine called Furfurea Other Urines resemble Plates having breadth without thickness in Latine called Laminea some are more like to Meal Wheat or Barley in the Latine called Similacea There are sometimes discerned in the Urine things that resemble white heats some longer some shorter some like to Rugs almost red there is also sometimes seen in the uppermost part of the Urine a foam or a froath in bells or bubbles sometimes there swims in the Urine the resemblance of a Cobweb at other times there is about the Circle as it were the renting of Cloth or the resemblances of the Motes of the Sun things like the corruption of a Sore or the masculine seed sometimes gravel or sand in these there may be divers colours some white some red some yellow some gray some black These Colours must be strictly observed whosoever will undertake from them a confident determination of the Sickness I refer all these to the judgement of wise persons what subtilty and cures in such niceties ought to be used There is for this purpose to be considered that judgement may not be wanting first whether the Ordure be thin or very thick what other matter issueth out with it what colour it is of what the savor is how little or how strong how easie or how painful Secondly the sweat what colour it is of of what smell whether the taste be salt bitter sower or unsavory Thirdly the evacuation of it be of one colour or of many if it doth smell very
strong what humor it did most abound with whether fasting or after-meals painful or easie Fourthly whether the Spittle is thick or thin mixt with blood corrupt like the humor issuing out at the Nose and if that be blood whether it be red watry or black Lastly it is to be observed what the diet of the Patient hath been before as also in his sickness his age the strength of his body exercise and the air he lives in where he continued longest in his youthful years whether in high or low watry or dry hot or cold Countreys these generals might suffice I shall conclude for the Students better satisfaction with some other from time to time retained tradition which in my judgement some of them are worthy of serious consideration White Urine signifies rawness and indigestion of the Stomach red heat thick like Puddle excessive labour or sickness white or red gravel appearing in the bottom of the Urinal threatens the Stone in the Reins black or green coloured Urine is ominous commonly signifying death Of Vomits IS the expulsion of bad humors contained in the Stomach upward it is accounted if wisely administred as to the mitigation of the violence rightly considered of to be the wholesomest kinde of Physick for those which are gross or full of humors For that which a Purgation leaves behinde a Vomit roots up if the party vomit too much rub his feet with hot and sweet water and if it cease not apply a gourd to the mouth of the Stomach Sometimes without any Physick at all one may fall to a customary vomiting then it proceeds from the hot complexion of the Stomach if from a cold you may help it by a bag of Wormwood dry Mints or Marjoram of each alike one handful of Nutmegs Cloves and Galingal half a dram of each one let all of them be dried and powdered and put betwixt two linnen clothes with Cotten interposed and basted and then let â—hem be applied upon the Stomach or else you may apply the said Herbs alone dried upon a â—ot Tile-stone put betwixt two linen cloths upon the Stomach let the stomach be fortified with â—he syrup of Mints or Wormwood or Lozenges â—f the Vomiting proceeds from a hot complexion you may help it by a Plaister applied to the â—tomach of Oyl of Roses Mints or Barley-flour with the white of an Egg the water of Purslain may be taken in drink to quench the thirst Of the Excrements EXcrements some are necessary and some superfluous as they proceed from too much blood yet nevertheless nourish when other nourishment fails the seed spearm milk or fat which are superfluous and do not proceed from blood nor can nourish but rather being separated from the blood are either moist earthy black melancholly sweat urine proceeds from the nose spittle c. Earthy or dry Excrements as Warts Nails Corns and such like Aristotle reckoneth the Marrow of the body amongst the Excrements but as the bones are nourisht by it even as the body is nutrified by the blood it cannot be acknowledged for any other then a nourishment Blood is the very essence of life which diminished the spirits must consequently be dissolved in consideration whereof I counsel them that use any moderate exercise not in any case to be let blood lest that corrupt matter succeed in the place of pure blood but if there be abundance of blood or if it be putrefied or burnt if other medicines avail not this ordination of mine must needs be infringed with better judgement as it may be safer to use Horsleeches especially at the Fundamental Veins which are called the sink of the body By this way the Scurvey Gout Dropsie and Melancholly may be prevented being applied in the Spring or Fall or oftner If the Blood which is let out appear red and white water overflow with it the body is sound if bubbling blood the stomach is diseased if green the heart is afflicted THE TREASURY OF LIFE OR Salves for every Sore Experienced and tryed RECEIPTS the Cure of the Most usual Diseases that our frail BODIES are most subject to whilst we remain in this Life Practised by Nich. Culpeper Gent. late Student in Physick and Astrology LONDON Printed for Nath. Brook at the Sign of the Angel in Cornhill 1659. THE Treasury of Life OR Salves for every Sore Experimental and tried Receipts for the Cure of most usual Diseases that our frail Bodies are most subject to whilest we remain in this Life CHAP. I. For the falling out of the Fundament THe cause of falling out of the Fundament is weakness or relaxation of the Sphineter Muscle and therefore the cure must be by such Medicines as dry and binde 2. A Poltiss made with Pear-tree-leaves and applied to the place is very good 3. But first you must put the Fundament up into its right place again with a warm cloth which may be done without much trouble if it have not been long out 4. If it have been long out many times there follows inflamations and swellings and then it is very difficult to put it up in its right place again yea impossible before the swelling be taken away 5. In such a case you must bathe the place with Oyl of Roses warm or with Oyl of Cammomile or with the decoction of Cammomile if the inflamation be not great 6. If the inflamation be great you may make a Poltiss of Chickweed and Mallows and Endive and Succory with some Malt-flour to make it thick and Sheeps-suet to make it moist and that will allay the inflamation in four and twenty hours time then you may put it up again into its proper place 7. Having put it up again into its place strew upon the place the Powder of burnt Harts-horn 8. A Poltiss made of the leaves of Rosemary and applied to the place is exceeding good 9. To burn Greek Pitch in a close stool whilst the diseased party sits over the smoak of it is an approved cure 10. All such things as are dry and binding are naturally medicinal for the disease amongst which Sinckfoil Bistort and Tormentil are very good CHAP. 2. Of the Liver FOr stoppages of the Liver the Decoction of the Roots of Parsley Fennel Endive and Succory are very good being drunk and also an Oyntment or Plaister made of them applied to the right side is very good 2 Sage constantly eaten is a mighty great strengthner of the Liver inferiour to no Herb growing 3 Take of Agrimony and Liverwort of each two handfuls Harts tongue Bettony and Ribwort of each one handful make a strong Decoction of them and boyl the Decoction into Syrup with Sugar so have you an excellent remedy for the Liver alwayes by you CHAP. 3. Of the Dropsie IN the beginning the Dropsie may easily be cured by drinking but the Decoction of Endive and eating the boyled Herb for a Sallet 2 Ribwort boyled and the Decoction drunk helpeth those that have the Dropsie 3 Also a Plaister made of Plantane
inwardly in this case 16. It is reported but whether it be true or no I know not that if there be any Pears in the room where a woman is in labour they wonderfully hinder delivery 17. Juniper-berries eaten or rather the distilled spirit of them drunk causeth delivery both of the childe and after-burthen 18. Dissolve a Swallows-nest in water strain it and let the woman labouring with child drink the water a good draught of it at a time it causeth the birth of the childe to be very easie CHAP. 17. Of the Gout TOwn cresses stamped and made in a Poltiss adding a little Sheeps-suet to it to keep it moist and applied to the place is a very good remedy 2. The place being anointed continually with Rape-seed-oyl will in time help the disease without any other remedy 3. The root of a Hollyhock or else of a Marsh-mallow being stamped and mixed with the grease of an old Dog and applied to the place will help the Gout in three dayes time 4. The seed of Plantane being beaten into powder and mixed with Hogs-grease and applied to the place is a great help against the Gout Take Mustard seed Figs and Honey a little Bread and a little Vinegar beat them all together and binde them to the grief Take the flesh of a fat Cat the grease of a Goose of a Badger and of a Fox Ivy-berries Sage Rue Virgins-wax Frankincense the Yolks of rosted Eggs and snails put all these in an earthen pot that hath a hole made in the bottom for the purpose lute the top of it close with paste that no Air may go out nor in and put the bottom of this pot into the mouth of another whole pot that is fit to receive it and lute them close together then dig a hole in the earth fit to receive the undermost pot and cover it up close with earth then make a fire about the uppermost and there will distill out of it a most excellent Oyntment to cure the Gout 7. Take six Bats or Flittermice boyl them in rain-water with a few sprigs of Willow it makes an excellent Bath to cure the Gout 8. The Gouty place being anointed with Oyl of Henbane takes away the pain 9. Take Snails and bruise them and apply them to the place is a most admirable remedy 10. Kill a puppy dog that is not thirty dayes old and anoint the grieved place with its blood 11. Take a whelp of the age aforesaid and roste him and when he is half rosted cut him through the midst and apply him hot to the grieved place 12. Henbane heat hot between two Tile-sherds and applied to the place helps the disease 13. Make a plaister with Opium Saffron and the Yolks of Eggs and apply to the place 14. Make an Oyntment with Emmets and their Eggs and Hogs-grease adding a little Bay-salt to it and anoint the grieved place with it 15. The distilled Spirit of Misletoe the grieved place being bathed with it is as excellent a remedy for the Gout as most is 16. The ashes of burnt Time mingled with the White of an Egg and plaistered upon the place helpeth the Gout 17. A Bath made with Water wherein Emmets and their Eggs being first bruised have been boyled doth quickly help the oldest Gout that is 18. A most admirable remedy for the Gout but that is very difficult to be gotten in these parts is to anoint the place with the grease of a Lion 19. Gallen saith that the ashes of Coleworts being mixed with Hogs-grease will help the Gout in three dayes time if it be anointed with it 20. The dung of a Stork mixed with Hogs-grease helpeth the Gout though of long continuance 21. An Oyntment made of Rosa Solis and Hogs-grease is an excellent remedy 22. Hermodactils beaten into powder and made with an Oyntment in to Hogs-grease is very good 23. Pigeons-dung boyled in Wine till the Wine be consumed and used as a plaister helpeth the Gout 24. Take a pound of wax five pound of good Oyl a pound of good Wine boyl them together till the Wine be consumed afterwards mingle therewith two drachms of Euphorbium in powder make an Oyntment thereof the effects thereof hath been proved in Gouts of all sorts 25. A drachm of the Juyce of the rinde of a Popplar-tree being drunk every morning is an excellent remedy if you cannot get a drachm of the Juyce bruise the Bark and make a strong Decoction of it and of that you may drink a quarter of a pint CHAP. 18. For the Fistula and other hollow Vlcers MIngle the Milk of Spurge with Hogs-grease and boyl them together till they be well incorporated then put a little powder of Myrrh to them anoint the tent with this Oyntment and put it into the hole of the Fistula and it will cleanse it of all manner of filth 2. Take of Plantane Ribwort Primrose-Leaves and Dazies dry them and beat them into powder and let him that hath a Fistula take three drachms of this powder in a day inward in any convenient Liquor viz. one in the morning another at noon and the third at night it is a sovereign cure for all sorts of Fistula's and hollow Ulcers if they be cureable if not my Author saith the Patient will vomit up the Medicine again 3. The ashes made of a Dogs-head being burnt in a new pot helpeth any Fistula or Canker and cleanseth the hollow Uâ—cer of all his filthiness 4. If the Fistula have many holes or if there be but one and that one be so straight that it will not admit of a Tent as many times it happens by reason of hardness of the lips in such a case there is no better remedy then this take Goats-dung and boyl it well with Honey then strain it when it is hot and drop a little of it warm into the hole it taketh away the Swelling and draweth out the Filth and Corruption purgeth away the rotteness and healeth up the Fistula 5. If the Fistula be outwards put thereto the Juyce of Doves-foot and it will heal it if it be inward drink it inwardly and it will do the like 6. Let such as are troubled with Fistula's take a drachm of Myrobalans in powder every morning if the cause come of Melancholly let him take the powder of Indian Myrobalans but if it proceed of Choller use Citron Myrobaâ—ans 7. If it be a woman that have the Fistula drop into it the Juyce of a Cows turd but if it be a man that hath it let it be Juyce of a Bulls â—urd 8. The Juyce of Plantane put into the holâ—owness of the Fistula will help it 9. The Juyce of Ribwort and the Juyce of Pimpernel will do the like 10. If the Fistula be clean a Tent made of Lead being put into it will cure it you may pull 〈◊〉 out now and then if you please and put it in â—gain 11. Let such as are troubled with Ulcers or Fistula's use Avens in their ordinary drink 12.
The distilled water of Night-shade is excellent good to wash hollow Ulcers but in my opinion the Spirit of the Herb is ten times better CHAP. 19. Of the Leprosie TAke an adder cut off the Head and Tail and cleanse him of his Skin and Entrails then boyl him in Wine and make him into Troches with a few crumbs of bread of which let the Patient take a drachm every morning in a quarter of a pint of the Wine wherein he was boyled if this begin to make his body swell take him to a Hot-house and let him sweat and after sweating let his whole body be anointed with the liquor wherein the Adder was boiled and you shall finde the whole flesh and skin will be renewed and the Patient perfectly cured 2. Viper Wine if it be well made must needs also be very good in this case 3. Make a strong Decoction of Adders in water then let Corn lie in steep in the water certain dayes and feed Hens with the same Corn let them eat no other meat nor drink no other drink but the water it was steeped in and in few dayes you shall see their Feathers will fall off when all their feathers are off then kill them and boil them and let the Leoprous person eat them and drink the water wherein they were sodden and bathe his body in it or at least wise so much of it as is troubled with the Leprosie 4 Take a Snake and roste her with salt afterwards burn her in a pot well closed while she may be all brought into powder of which we may give a drachm at a time in any convenient Liquor to him that hath the Leprosie CHAP. 20. Of Warts THough Warts themselves be no terrible disease yet are they but an ill savoured Ornament to the hands and a worse to the face 2. Put the feet of Hens in hot Embers till the scales thereof be separated and shrunk from her Legs and with the same scales while they be warm rub your warts and in three or four dayes so doing it will drive them away 3. The rinde of a Willow-tree burnt and the ashes tempered with Vinegar and applied plaister-wise to the warts takes them away 4 Agrimony stamped with Vinegar and applied to them doth the like 5. Purslane rubbed upon Warts hath this property that it will pluck them up by the roots 6. Take a red Snail and cut her overthwart the back and save the liquor that cometh from her the which blend with a little Bay-salt being first dryed and beaten into powder and apply it to the Warts and it will instantly kill them 7. The Milk of a Fig-tree if a little of it be put upon Warts it takes them away by the Roots without any pain at all CHAP. 21. To draw any Thorn or Splinter out of the Body SOuthernwood made into an Oyntment with Hogs-grease of its own property draweth out any Splinter or thorn or Iron out of the body of man 2. Goose-dung mingled with the Juyce of Betony doth the like 3. The ashes of burnt Swallows mixed with Vinegar and applied hath the like operation 4. Polipodium stamped with Hogs-grease and applyed to the grief is very good also 5. The root of Gladen being stamped and applied to the place is good in the same operation for it draweth out not onely Thorns and Splinters but also pieces of broken Bones 6. Also if it he drunk inwardly it is exceeding good in all manner of bruises 7. Betony being made into an Oyntment with Hogs-grease is excellent good to draw out pieces of broken bones especially in the head 8. Stamp the Root of Elecampany with the grease of a Hedge-hog and a little Honey and apply it to the place it draweth out Thorns or any thing else that is fastened in the body of man 9. Snails bruised and applyed to the place is a remedy inferiour to none The Expert LAPIDARY OR A Physical Treatise OF THE SECRET VERTUES OF STONES BY Nich. Culpeper Gent. late Student in Physick and Astrology LONDON Printed for Nath. Brook at the Sign of the Angel in Cornhill 1659. THE Expert Lapidary OR A Physicall Treatise of the secret Vertues of Stones 1. Jacinth OF these there are two kindes red which is the best the other like a Carbuncle which is presently changed by the fire and of a small bigness This Stone being carried about a man preserveth a man from hurt by lightning and preserveth him from the plague if it be brought near to any that hath the plague it loseth its lustre splendor and brightness so it doth being brought near to any poison being beaten into powder and so taken inwardly or born whole about a man it provoketh sleep and encreaseth honour and wisedom Authors for this Cardanus and Wicker 2. Saphire THis being born about one helps all diseases of the skin as Morphew Itch Scabs Ring-worms c. keeps back sweating makes men chaste causeth strength and a good colour takes away vain fears helps Necromancy and troubles by Necromantick Apparitions by divine gift it makes the minde quiet godly and safe being drunk inwardly it helps such as are bit by venomous Beasts and Scorpions inward Ulcers Poyson and Pestilence flesh growing in the Eyes strengthneth and maketh glad the heart being mixed with other Medicines for the same purpose it asswageth Carbuncles by being touched with it being worn it defends from the Pestilence inwardly taken it helps Ulcers in the inner parts and burstness Authors for this Albertus magnus Garcias Cardanus Dioscorides and Gallen 3. Emerald OF Emeralds there are three sorts the best comes from Scilicia and is the softest the next from Peru which is harder and not so deep a colour but more perspicuous and glistering the third which is the worst comes from the West Indies and is of a dull colour scarce to be seen through scarce any that come from Peru are without spots They rejoyce most in their own light and are of more force by night then by day no Stone more safe to carry about one then this the Saphire and Jacinth This Stone stayeth lust and according to Cardanus and Albertus magnus they will break if they be about a man when he deflours a Virgin Being born about one it stayes the Vertigo or dizziness in the head strengthens the memory stayes inordinate passions and affections helps the sight causeth love of Study encreaseth riches being held under the tongue it is good to divine with it causeth eloquence Being taken inwardly it cureth the Falling-sickness bloody Flux it resisteth Poison and helps vain fears as of Fairies Night-Hags Devils c. it helps folly and anger and brings a good condition Cardanus Albertus Magnus Garcias and Aristotle 4. Ruby RUby is a red Stone shining like fire it restraineth lust being born about one but most of all being taken inwardly it resisteth the Pestilence preserveth the body sound strengthens the vital spirits thereby taking away evil thoughts and making the man nimble-witted
kinde of Excrement is common to all living Creatures as well Beasts as Men for which cause Nature as a wise Mother hath provided that every concoction hath its excrement or superfluity the Stomach sends out dung the Liver Urine the Veins Sweat so after the third and last concoction which is done in every part of the body that is nourished there is left some profitable blood reserved by Nature for Procreation which blood we call the Generative Seed the timely evacuation whereof avails much for the bodies health for by it the body is made light and disburthened of Phlegm and other superfluous humors which otherwise would wax rank as may be observed in ancient Maids and some chaste Schollers for besides their secret flames and imbridled affections which dispose their mindes to extravigant imaginations we see them also ill complexioned by reason of such vaporous fumes which ascend up towards their cloudy brains To pass over other inconveniences they are subject to as the Green-sickness the Night-mare the Spleen the palpitation and trembling of the heart and their polluted dreams the best advice I can give such persons is to marry in the fear of God and chiefly those are required who are Sanguine or lean for such persons abound with blood Physicians hold the Winter to be the best time for Carnal Copulation and in the Spring-time when Nature is desirous without the help of Arts and Drugs and at night when the stomach is full and the body somewhat warm that sleep immediately after it may lenifie the Lassitude caused through the action thereof In the Summer in May and July when the Spittle thickens on the ground it cannot be so wholesome nor in frosty wâ—ather Immoderate Venery weakeneth the strength hurts the brain extinguisheth radical moisture and hasteneth on old age and death the Spâ—rm or Seed of generation being one of the greatest comforters of life which being wilfully shed or lost hurteth more then if he should bleed forty times as much That Batchelors and Maids may drive away their unclean dreams at nights let them refrain from Wine and Venerious Imaginations not use to lie in soft Beds let them read the Bible and moral Philosophers use exercises let them eat Agnus Castus in English Park and they shall finde a strange effect to follow Of Bathing BAthing in cold Water so that the same be clear clear from Rain or a silver colour'd Brook in the summer time before meats doth wonderfully delight nature provoke the appetite and is very good against Rhumes the Dropsie and Gout and causes digestion you shall finde it wonderful expedient sometimes to bathe the head with hot Lee made of ashes after which you must cause one presently to pour three or four quarts of cold water then let the head be dried with cold Towels the suddain powring down of the water stirs up the natural heat of the body quickneth the memory keepeth from baldness In the summer washing of the hands often doth much avail the eye-sight In the Winter time when the Water is cold and Frozen this kinde of artificial Bath is very expedient and wholsome take two pounds of Turpentine four ounces of the Juyce of Wormwood and Wilde Mallows one ounce of fresh â—â—cor one dram of Saffron mingle them and seethe them a pretty while and being hot wet four Linnen cloathes therein and therewith bathe your self or else make a Bath after this manner take Fumitory Enula Compana Leaves Sage Fetherfue Rosemary and Wormwood of each a handful or two seethe them in a sufficient quantity of water till they be soft and put as much as a Walnut of Allom and a little Brimstone powder and therewith bathe the affected places of the body he that uses these bathes in convenient time may live healthfully for by them superfluous excrements are extracted in sweat But with this caution I commend Baths that no person that is distempered through Venery Gluttony Fasting Watching or violent Exercise do enter into them Diet for a Feaver and Ague I Do advertise every one that hath a Feaver or an Ague to eat no meat six hours before his fit doth take him and in no wise as long as the Ague doth endure to put off his shirt or dublet nor to rise out of the bed but when need shall require and in any wise not to go nor take the open Air for such provision may be had that at the uttermost at the third fit he may be delivered of the Feaver Let the Patient beware of casting his hands and arms at any time or to spraul with his Legs out of the bed it is good for the space of three fits to wear continually Gloves and not to wash the hands He is to eat little and those temperate meats to refrain from Wine Beer and Cider and all other things whatsoever that are not of a very light digestion Diet for the Chollick and the Stone THe Iliack and Chollick are ingendred of ventosity the which is intrused or inclosed in two Guts the one is called Ilia and the other is called Colon for these two infirmities one must beware of cold and it is not good to be long fasting and necessary to be laxative but in no wise to be constupate These things following are not good for those which have these aforesaid infirmities new bread stale bread new ale they must abstain also from drinking of Beer of Cider of Red Wine and Cinamon also refrain from all meats that Honey is in from eating of cold Herbs Beans Pease Pottage beware of fruits and of all things the which do ingender winde For the Stone abstain from eating of Red herring Martilmas-beef and Bacon salt fish salt meats Beware of going cold about the middle especially about the Reins of the back and make no restriction of wine and water nor seege that water would expel Diet for several kindes of the Gout They which are troubled with the Gout or any kinde of it I do advertise them not to sit too long forgetting to exonerate the bladder and the belly when need shall require and also to beware the Legs hang not without some stay nor that the Boots or Shoes be not over strait Whosoever hath the Gout must refrain from drinking of new Ale of Beer and Red Wine Also he must not eat new Bread Eggs fresh Salmon Eels Fresh Herring Pilcherds Oysters all shell fish he must avoid the eating of fresh Beef of Goose of Duck and of Pigeons he must beware of taking of cold in his Legs or riding or going wetshod Beware of Venerous acts after refection or after or upon a full stomach from all things that ingender evil humors and are inflative Diet for the Lepors HE that is infected with any of the four kindes of Leprosie must refrain from all manner of Wines and from new drinks and strong Ale let him beware of riot and surfeiting let him abstain from eating of Spices Dates from Tripes Puddings and all inwards of Beasts Fish
much drink and meat that the Liver which is the fire under the pot is suppressed that he cannot naturally nor truly decoct or digest the superabundance of meat and drink the which is in the pot or stomach wherefore divers times these Impediments do follow The tongue is deprived of his office to speak the wits or senses be dull and obnubulated from reason sloath and sluggishness consequently followeth The appetite is withdrawn the head is light and akes full of fantasies and divers times some be so sopited that the Malt-worm playeth the devil so fast in the head that all the world runneth round about on wheels then doth the principal members and the official members fail of their strength yet the pulses be full of agility Such Repletions especially such Gurgitations do ingender divers infirmities through which brevity and shortness of life follows For the wise man saith That Surfeits do kill many men and Temperance doth prolong the life And also it is written Ecclus 37. That there doth die many more by Surfeit then there doth by the Sword For as surfeiting ingendreth many Infirmities as the Dropsies the Gouts Phlegm Pimples in the face vehement Impressions undigest Humors Opilations Feavers Putrefaction It perturbates the head the eyes the tongue and the stomach with many other infirmities Gallen saith overmuch repletion or surfeiting causeth strangulation and sudden death for as I said the stomach is so inforced and the Liver is so sore oppressed that natural heat and the powers are extinct wherefore abstinence for this matter is the best and the perfectest Medicine the Patient being in no wise to eat meat until the stomach be evacuated of all evil humors by vomit or other convenient wayes for else crude and raw undigested humors will encrease in the body Two Meals a day is sufficient for a resident person A labourer may eat three times a day I advertise that the first refection or meal be digested ere he do eat the second for there is nothing more hurtful for mans body then to lay meat upon meat undigested for the last refection or meal will hinder the digestion of the first refection or meal Also sundry meats of divers operations eaten at one refection or meal is unwholesome nor is it good to sit long at dinner and supper An hour is sufficient to sit at dinner not so long at supper We English have an evil use in sitting long at dinner and at supper at the beginning of dinner and supper we feed on grosse meats and the best which are wholesome nutritive and light of digestion are kept for servants for when the good meat comes to the table through feeding upon gross meat the appetite is extinct I am unwilling to be too large on this Subject and therefore I shall refer thee Courteous Reader to the other two Doctors of Reason and Experience Of several sorts of Drinks WAter is one of the four Elements of the which divers Liquors or Drinks for mans sustenance are made taking their original and substance of it as Ale Beer Mead and Methegline Water is unwholesome alone by it self for an English man considering the contrary usage which is not concurrant with nature Water is cold slow and slack of digestion The best Water is Rain Water if so be that it is clean and purely taken Next to it is running water the which doth swiftly run from the East into the West upon stones or pibbles the third Water to be praised is River or Brook Water which is clear running on pibbles and gravel Standing Waters which are refreshed with a fresh Spring are good but standing Waters and Well Waters on which the sun hath no reflection although they be lighter then other running Waters are yet they are not commendable And let every one beware of all Waters which are standing and putrefied with froath docknet and mud for if they bake or brew or dress meat with it it will ingender many infirmities The Water which every man ought to dress his meat withal or shall use baking or brewing let it be running and put it in vessels that it may stand there two or three hours strain the upper part through a thick linen cloth and cast the inferial part away If any do use to drink water with wine let it be purely strained and then seethe it and after it is cold put it into his wine but it is better to drink with wine stilled waters especially the water of Strawberries of Bugloss of Borage of Endive of Succory or the water of Sow-thistle and Dandelion and if any one is troubled with the Stone or doth burn in the pudibunde places let him use to drink with white Wine the water of Haws and the water of Milk Of Wine WInes are of Grapes except Respis which is made of a berry Chuse your Wine after this sort it must be fine fair and clear to the eye fragrant and redolent having a good odor and flavour in the nose it must sparkle in the glass when it is drawn or put out of the pot into the glass it should be cold and pleasant in the mouth strong and subtile of substance moderately drunk it doth accuate and quicken the wits comfort the heart scoure the Liver especially if it be white Wine it doth rejoyce all the powers and nourish them it ingenders good blood it doth comfort and cherish the brain and it dissolveth Phleghm it ingendreth heat is good against heaviness and penvesiness and is full of agility it is medicinable especially white Wine for it doth mundifie and cleanse wounds and sores The better the Wine is the better humors it doth ingender Wine ought not to be too new nor to old high Wines as Malmesey may be kept long because Wine is full of fumosity it is good sometimes to allay it with water French Wines and specially Renish Wine that is fined is good at meat especially Claret Wine It is not good to drink Wine nor Beer before one doth eat though there be old-fantastical sayings to the contrary Also these hot Wines as Malmesey Corse Greke Romanisk Romney Sack Alygant Bastard Tyre Osay Muscadel Caprick Tent Roberdavy with other hot Wines are not good to drink with meat but after meat with Oysters with Salads with Fruit a draught or two may be allowed Old men may drink high Wines at their pleasure all sweet and gross Wines cause fatness Of Ale ALe is made of Malt and Water and they which do put any other thing into Ale except Yest or Barme do sophistick their Ale Ale for an English man is a natural drink Ale must have these properties it must be fresh and clear not ropy it must have no Weft nor Tail Ale should not be drunk under five dayes old new Ale is unwholsome sowre Ale and dead and Ale which do stand atilt is most unwholesome Barley Malt maketh better Ale then Oaten Malt or any other corn it ingenders grose humors but it causeth strength Of Beer
the tears that flow from the eyes are salt and hot The Patients air must be dry cold and obscure his meat somewhat cooling and little nourishing he must eat little in the first dayes of his cure his sleep must be long his belly evacuated and his minde kept pleasant Of the Night-Mare THe Night-Mare called Incubus is a Disease in which one doth think that a great weight lies on him in his sleep it differs from the Falling-sickness as the cause of it is venomous so is not the Hag or Night-Mare there being no Convulsion as in the Falling-sickness The part affected is the Heart-walls or part of the Midriff the sense of the Patient in his sleep is stupified he supposes himself to be stifled insomuch that he cannot speak a word he groans and his fancy is so disturbed that he thinks a Spirit is there whence the anguish of his minde is caused so that he desires to cry out but cannot from hence is caused the heating or rather boiling of his blood so that his spirits being attenuated and his pores opened the Patient suddenly starteth up This Disease is caused from gross cold Phlegm as also from melanchollick blood settled about the Heart and Veins of the Breast from whence cold vapors are belched out He that useth a slender diet is seldom troubled with the Night-Mare but doth frequent those that have many crudities They that lie on their sides are very seldom troubled with it If this Disease be of any long continuance it doth threaten the Falling-sickness or the Apoplexy Madness or Hypocondraick Melancholly and other Diseases The air where the Patient lives should be temperate hot and bright his meat easie of digestion of good juyce not windy he must eat sparingly especially at supper he must not sleep in the day time his belly must be kept loose and his minde quiet Of a Convulsion A Convulsion called Spasmus is a Convulsion or shrinking of the Sinnews an effect of which doth force them and the Muscles unwillingly to that disposition of body which they did enjoy by the benefit of the animal faculty when they were in perfect health this being an involuntary motion in the part which did usually move of its own accord The Brain is first affected and chiefly and then the face with the whole body is taken with a Convulsion which doth happen to those that have the Falling-sickness in which accident the roots of the Sinnews are hurt the brain being shrunk doth joyn all its force together for the expelling of that which is hurtful The brain is sometimes first affected and then the face with the whole body is shrunk up together but for the most part a Convulsion doth happen to the Muscles in determinate parts whereby the part affected doth plainly shew that the Muscles are grieved The signs of this Disease are the stretching of the Sinnews which if long with the Patient do exceedingly waste the strength while all parts under the head are annulled The efficient cause is either fulness or emptiness fulness is caused by blood and then a Convulsion happeneth suddenly it is also caused by a phlegmy humor which doth winde it self as the blood doth into the Sinnews and Muscles this causes a Palsie The emptiness of a Sinnew takes more deliberation in growing upon a Patient this is occasioned by the Ague Hunger Melancholly violent Sweating Vomiting excessive Venery or Inflamations in the sinnewy parts A Convulsion which is caused by a Wound and of Heleborus is mortal This Disâ—ase is also incureable if it be caused by emptiness Let the air of the Patient be hot and dry his diet rather roast then sod instead of Wine when the Disease first seizes he may be permitted to drink honied water wherein Sage and Cinamon are boiled exercise must be avoided the neck and back-bones of the sick person must be rubbed his sleep moderate his excrements answerable to his belly his minde quiet Of Choller CHoller is an immoderate perturbation of the Stomach and Bowels whence malign humors break forth upwards and downwards This Disease is often so violent that it deprives one of Life within the space of a day or two without a Feaver the substance of the body being consumed by vomits and stools for excrements come often out with such force that the spirits are expelled with the humors the upper and lower part of the stomach is primarily affected the bowels being distempered by the stomachs disburthening of it self through them The signs that make known that these parts are affected are vomits and evacuation a chollerick sowre and stinking matter is vomited upwards and downwards for many hours as if the Patient had drunk great store of such stuff This Disease is gathered together in all the body or in the Gall Bladder Misentery or Bowels This Disease is sharp but the strength of it is dissolved in a short time The air the Patient lives in must be cold and bright if he be strong a little quantity of meat will suffice him he should forbear eating for two dayes he may drink then strong Wine in this Wine thin plates of Gold should be quencht he must sleep very gently and shun the passions of the minde Of the Head Ache. THis disease is sometimes caused from the location of the Head sharp Vapors and Swelling humors ascending from the lower parts assaulting the Head because as the brain is of a cold and moist temperature superfluity of excrements are therein generated which if they encrease and are not avoided by the expulsive faculty in time disturb the Head with Aches the Head-Ache occasioned by an ague quaffing or some other external cause is by the Latines called Cephallalgia the Films of the brain is much troubled with this disease which by reason of their tenderness the least pains are sharp and tender to them but the substance of the brain is more grosser so that the pain that seizes thereon is duller and more loading this disease is sometimes caused from cold and Phlegmy matter this matter by the grossness and sliminess doth stop the narrow passages of the Head the pain that comes by a hot is more vehement then that which comes by a cold distemper an old pain caused by cold matter is hardly to be cured especially in old men a Head-Ache continually vexing is the forerunner of madness especially if the Vomit appear somewhat rusty it also presages other diseases The Air where the Patient lives should be hot and dry roast meat is better then boiled exercise and sleep must be moderate let him lie with his head raised up and somewhat covered he must avoid Vomiting and discontents of mind Of the Cough CAlled Tussis is a violent breathing causing much breath or spirit speedily to break forth as it endeavours by its force to discharge sharp excrements which do molest the Lungs and hinder the passages or which do any other way offend the body this motion is caused by nature which doth force the
dry and binde it ought to be of a slimy substance he must eat sparingly he may drink wine and water mixed together he must shun all exercise he must breath very gently for violent breathing is offensive he must not sleep in the day time his sleep at night must be moderate his belly must be kept loose by art or nature perturbations of his minde must be avoided especially anger The Postscript COurteous Student observing my indisposition of Health to encrease and still seize more powerfully on me I have so ordered through the trust I have imposed in some of my best Friends that these Papers preserserved for the publique good should out-live me in which as the old Saying is I have inclosed Homerâ— Iliads in a Nut-shel in these few Pages epitomized the Mystery of the Skill of Physick in this small Looking-glass representing to thy clear view above forty of the most dangerous and desperate Diseases that chiefly in this Life afflict ouâ— frail Bodies It cannot be expected that having confined my self to such narrow limits that I should have annexed there more particular Cures they having been so seriously and I hope through Gods Blessing successfully treated of in my foregoing Treatises I acknowledge in these my last Endeavors that I have in part made use of an excellent Manuscript amongst others some years since that came happily to my perusual whether it were 〈◊〉 Original a Coppy a Translation or the Authors Name I know not but whosoever he were I so approved of his admirable Reason that I thought it fit to joyn the best Experience of my own continued Practice to it Vis unita fortior It is â—â—t out of any arrogance or prerogative of my own fancy that I have stiled these three Diet Reaâ—on and Experience Doctors those that know 〈◊〉 rightly can determine that I was never so inmoured with that Title but onely to inform my â—istaken Countrey-men that it is not the Cowl â—â—at makes the Munk the shaking of the Vrinal â—e stroaking of the Beard hard Words the Plush â—loak a large House with a Monster in the first â—â—om to amaze the Patient but deep grounded Reaâ—â—â—n and tried Experience that commences a Physiâ—an with Diet Reason and Experience The three â—â—re-mentioned Authentick Doctors I have conâ—lted I commend their Advice to the well affectâ—â— and judicious for others I care not Nicholas Culpeper Chymical INSTITUTIONS DESCRIBING Natures Choicest Secrets in Experienced Chymical Practice shewing the several Degrees of Progression in the Physical Cabinet of that Art BY Nich. Culpeper Gent. late Student in Physick and Astrology LONDON Printed for Nath. Brook at the Sign of the Angel in Cornhill 1659. Chymical Institutions Describing Natures Choicest Secrets in Experienced Chymical Practice shewing the several degrees of Progression in the Physical Cabinet of that Art Chap. 1. Vinegar of Squills TAke of Squills the outward skins and hard root at the bottom being cast away one pound slice them with an Ivory or Bone Knife for Iron spoils them then put them into three quarts of strong Vinegar stop them close and in one moneth they will be ready for use and then if you please with Honey you may make them into a Syrup * According to the quality of the Patient strength of nature of the disease so let the Dose be 3 and therefore no certain Dose can generally be determined The Dose is one spoonful in the morning â—sting and walking an hour after it It preserveth the body in health even till exâ—eam old age as Samius recorded by Gallen â—oved whom he affirmed to live one hundred â—â—d seventeen Years in health using no other â—edicine but onely this It causeth good digestion long winde clear â—â—ce acute sight good hearing it expelleth winde and makes a good colour it suffers no offensive thing to remain in the body Winde Choller Phlegm Dung nor Urine but bringeth them forth brings out filth though it lies in the bones it hath been known to cure such as have been given over by all Doctors it cures hardness of the Liver and Spleen takes away Gouts and all swelling of the Limbs In a word I commend it for a wholesome Medicine for soundness of body conservation of health and vigor of minde The Colledge of Physicians of London laid all their heads together to hammer out the time when this Squill must be gathered or taken out of the earth and the result of all their consultations was this That it must be gathered at the rising of the Dog-star and so they very learnedly quoted it in that stately piece of Wit their Pharmacopeia but which of the two Dog-stars they mean whether Cyrius or Procyon or whaâ— rising whether Comiscal Acronychal or Heliacal I know not I nor I think themselves neither so that a childe in Astrology cannot chuse buâ— admire at their learned ignorance Chap. 2. Elixir Vitae TAke of Cloves Nutmegs Zedoary Giâ—ger Galangal Pepper white and blacâ— Juniper-berries Citron pills Orange pills Sagâ— Basil Rosemary Mints Marjoram Bay-berrieâ— Penniroyal Gentian Calamint Elder leave Roses white and red Spicknard Cubebs Aloe Hapatique the seeds of Mugwort and Marjoram of each two drams Figs Raisins Dates Almonds Pine-nuts of each six ounces white Honey a pound Musk one dram fine Sugar four pound bruise the things that may be bruised and infuse them all together in fifteen pints of Aqua vitae for ten dayes or thereabouts afterwards still it in a bathe till the feces be dry Take this water and stop it close in a glass let it stand in Horse-dung two Moneths then have you the first water good Then take out the feces and distil them in sand with a strong fire and there will come out a water red like blood and thick which will stink admirably place this in Horse-dung as the former this is the second water of the nature of fire The first water if a childe take a dram of it every third day in the morning it keeps its body sound from diseases it cureth wounds at three times washing with it or four at the most it helps all infirmities in the eyes a drop being put into them the face and breast being washed with it it preserveth Youth being taken inâ—ardly it provoketh Lust and makes barren women fruitful The latter water a spoonful will recover and revive a man that is half dead it helps pains in the Matrix and cures Pleurisies being used by â—nction it cures pains of the Chollick helpeth â—ardness of the Spleen pains in the teeth stinkâ—ng breath Feavers of all sorts being taken inwardly and powerfully prevails against humors of all sorts if any one be so sick that he cannot speak give him a drachm of this with a drachm of the former water and so soon as it is in his mouth he will speak This Dr. Floravantus saith he hath proved an hundred times yet if it lack not above half the number it is no matter Chap. 3. Aqua Mirabilis TAke of Turpentine one
ounce Olibanum two ounces Aloes Hepatique Mastick Cloves Galangal Cinnamon Saffron Nutmegs Cubebs one ounce Gum of Ivy five ounces beat what can be beaten into very fine powder and still them in an Alembick with a gentle fire The first water will be clear and white when it begins to change colour take away the first water and receive the second The second water will be of the colour of Saffron and thick when the colour changeth again take away the second water and receive the third The third water will be like Honey then distil the feces dry The first water cureth Fistula's and noise in the ears a drop or two being put into them * Mark the quality of the disease and give the hottest water in the coldest disease or at least qualifie them one with another The second cureth infirmities in the eyes they being washed with it The third water cureth ulcers and scabs in any part of the body and swellings of the eyes it presently easeth pains of the teeth it resisteth cold poisons as Toads Spiders Serpents Scorpions c. Neither can any sting hurt one a drop of this Oyl being warmed and applied to the place it cureth all ulcers lie they never so deep in the flesh nerves or bones and that without any tent in nine days be they never so foul fistulated or cankered it cures wounds with a stone or fall or shot a linen rag being wet in it and laid upon it it strengtheneth the nerves and sinnews helps swellings of the Legs Joynts or any place coming of a cold cause or corrupt blood It is so hot in operation that nothing can be found hotter and of such a piercing quality that warm a drop thereof and lay it on your hand it will presently soak in and you shall not feel it If you would try the vertue of it take a Capon or any other Fowl the feathers being plucked off and the guts being taken out then heat him so hot as you can well hold him in your hand then anoint him with this Oyl and lay him in the Sun two hours to dry then anoint him again and dry him as before then lay him where you will he will never putrifie Chap. 4. A Precious Water TAke of Aqua vitae many times distilled over a gallon Sperma caeti Ambergrease Rheubarb two drams Musk one dram put the Aqua vitae in a glass then tie up all the aforesaid species in a linnen cloath and hang the Nodulus in the water by a string it being close stopped lest the spirit evaporate with Wax and Parchment putting a little Cinamon into the Nodulus so shall you have an excellent water of the colour of Gold This is indeed a precious water and I am of opinion that if an Astrological time were observed for the beginning of the business it would be ten times better It expelleth Poyson a drop of it being taken in any convenient substance resisteth both pestilence and putrefaction if any be infected with the pestilence or any other Feaver coming of putrefaction or inflamation of blood or humors as most Feavers if not all do six or seven drops given in any cordial cures them Chap. 5. An Apprehension worth experience TAke of the Juyce of Chelondine which was gathered when the Sun was in Leo which is called his own house let him be free from Malevolent Beams and if he apply to the aspect of Benevolents 't is the better let the Moon be strong applying to the Sun and encreasing in light let the Angles of the Heavens be clear from the bodies of Saturn Mars or the Dragons tail from this Juyce draw the Elements apart and rectifie them all severally the triplicity the Patient was born under and his Disease being known and discretion in the administration accordingly used why may not it alone cure all Diseases though not in all people Chap. 6. A Balsam TAke of Turpentine one pound Oyl of Bayes four ounces Galbanum three ounces Gum-arabick four ounces Frankinsence Mirrhe Gum of Ivy Wood of Aloes of each three ounces Galanglal Cloves Comfrey-roots Nutmegs Cinamon Ginger Zedoary Diptany of Creet one ounce Musk Amber-greece one dram the things being in powder which may be beaten put them into a Retort and put to them Aqua vitae six pints then wet a rag in Aqua vitae and set fire to them let it burn stopping it close and after nine dayes still it in sand first with a gentle fire At the first will come out a clear water with Oyl amongst it let the fire be gentle till you see it begin to look black When it changeth colour then change your receiver and separate the Oyl from the first water then increase the fire and perfect the distillation Keep the last water also apart which being suffered to stand and settle will have a liquor which may be separated from that which is called the Balsam it self The first is called water of Balsam The Oyl is called Oyl of Balsam The last water mother of Balsam And the residence in the bottom of the last water is the Balsam it self and is the most precious of all The first water cleanseth the eyes causeth a clear sight the face being washed with it makes it fair it preserveth Youth breaks the Stone in the Reins brings forth Urine stopped by carnosity or fleshiness it marvellously cureth all sort of wounds being washed with it and a Lint dipped in it and put into them it also helpeth Hecktique Feavers and Coughs The Mother of Balsam helps Scabs Itches Tetters Ring-worms and Leprosie The Oyl of Balsam helps many Diseases as Wounds in the Head though the Skull be broken a drachm of it at a time being drunk in water helps Pleurisies wonderfull speedily The Balsam it self is the wonder of the world two drachms of it being taken easeth any pain it helps Coughs Hoarseness infirmities either hot or cold being used in unction it pierceth to the utmost extream parts curing thereby old Aches and bruises it cures Quartane Agues all the body being anointed with it once a day Chap. 7. A Balsam for the Stone TAke of Turpentine a pound old Oyl six ounces Oyl of Bayes four ounces Cinamon Spikenard of each two ounces Bricks well burnt eight ounces still them altogether in an Alembick It provokes Urine breaks the Stone kills Worms helps noise in the Ears the Palsie Gouts of all sorts all pains in the Joynts either by drinking of it or anointing with it but you must use but very little of it at a time inwardly mixed with apt things for the disease you take it for Chap. 8. A Balsam for the Palsie TAke of Galbanum a pound Gum of Ivy three ounces bruise them and still them in Balneo mix the liquor with Oyl of Bayes one ounce Turpentine a pound still them again then separate the Oyl from the water and keep the Oyl for your use For the dead Palsie Convulsion Apoplexy Shaking-palsie or any disease of the
when the vessels are thus Luted thâ— the animal and vegitable virtue cannot exhaâ—â— from the matter to be distilled then set a trâ—vet over the furnace with a vessel or Caldroâ—â— like Balneum Mariae which vessel fill halfâ— two parts thereof with water and underneat make a gentle fire increasing it by little and little and when the Cucurbite waxeth hot iâ—crease not the fire any more but alwayes imâ—tate nature as much as is possible to do Foâ— Nature as saith Gallenus and Lully cannot suffeâ— any violence without corruption of the primâ— vum or first matter Now according to Avicenna there arâ— four degrees of heat according to the four coâ—plexions the first whereof is warme as warâ— water so far calefied that it cannot hurt anâ— member immited into it The second degree 〈◊〉 so hot as it may be suffred by an humane member without lesion The third degree is so hot that if any member be immitted into it it is offended with its calidity and this degree is next to ebulition The fourth degree of heat is so vehement that it cannot be endured because it exceedeth in heat and this degree is ebulition or boyling Some also call the fire of a Bathe the first degree of fire and the heat of Ashes the second degree and burning fire the third degree but the fourth degree they deny And according to other Artists the fire of a Bathe is the first degree the fire of Ashes the second degree and Sand the third and sometimes proceed to a fourth but he who desires to be a perfect Master in the Art of Distillation ought to observe that in all Distillations whatsoever the fire never ought to be increased to the fourth degree because the fire will be more violent then the nature of the matter to be distilled can bear And by consequence Nature her self will be violated through the violence of too much heat and therefore of all Artists the fourth degree is to be rejected For Nature her self was so ordained by God that she cannot suffer any violence or vehement thing without the corruption of her self as by the judgement of many Philosophers may be proved Therefore I counsel all Lovers of this Art that they do not undertake to intermeddle with this excellent work given unto us by Divine Providence for the preservation of our humane lives unless they have the perfect knowledge of these four degrees of heat and know how to temperate them and the fire in alâ— things as they ought It is therefore to be understood that the degrees of heat are alwayes to be diminished afteâ— the first distillation because in the first distillation the matter is most gross so that it will noâ— easily yield to the distillation because of its impurity and crude substance which is not in thâ— subsequent distillations Therefore in the first distillation the fire is tâ— be exalted from the first degree to the last parâ— of the third degree so that the bathe be verâ— hot yet it ought not to boil In the second dâ—stillation we may work with a more gentle fire because by the first the grosseness of the matteâ— is somewhat attenuated so that there needs noâ— so great a fire and so alwayes by descending 〈◊〉 little in every degree you shall extenuate thâ— fire because as we have often said if you dâ—â— force or too much compel the matter whicâ— ought to be distilled Nature her self will bâ— corrupted Chap. 11. How a rude matter ought to be putrified and madâ— fit for Distillation WE must diligently weigh and accurately consider what substance the matter 〈◊〉 of that is to be digested whether it be hard oâ— soft gross or subtle how and by what Art iâ— may be putrified and digested that it may bâ— the better brought to yield to the distillation and that the pure may be sequestred from the impure and the gross may be the better separated from the subtle In the progress whereof observe these degrees of putrifaction Whatsoever it is out of which you would extract a Quintessence by distillation first of all let it be putrified and digested two moneths in Horse-dung and between the first and second distillation one moneth between the second and third three weeks between the third and fourth fifteen dayes between the fourth and fifth eight dayes between the fifth and sixth four dayes and between the sixth and seventh two dayes And further observe that the dung ought alwayes to be of the same equal heat for if the heat be deficient the circulation of the water is corrupted And by conseqence the matter it self which should be reduced into the Quintessence will be separated in the heat of Heaven as you may see in a Diameter Line which divideth the Quintessence which is the superiour part from the feces which is the inferiour part And here note that these degrees of digestion and putrifaction of the matter is so to be attributed as it is before declared concerning the degrees of heat Therefore there is required a longer time of putrifaction before distillation then afterwards and when the first distillation is made the matter contains not in it self so much grossness as before and is become more apt to receive the Quintessence then before it was And therefore after the first distillation the putrifaction is made in a shorter time then at the first because the matter is become more subtil And therefore it is worthily to be perpended that there ought to be made seven digestion or putrifactions as also seven distillations The manner also of digesting after the opinions of the Philosophers is delivered after this manner Every one that will endeavour to performe such a work let him cause to be made a pit oâ— hole of five foot deep and two foot wide or a little more Let the pit be made in some moist place as in a Celler which being done let the bottom bâ— covered with quick lime about the thickness oâ— half a foot Let there be another laying oâ— horse-dung which is not much putrified nor very new upon which place the vessel wherein yoâ— put the matter to be fermented and then fill thâ— pit with dung round about the vessel which being done let the dung be madefied with hot water according the magnitude and quantity of the pit untill you can feel the heat about the vessel or cucurbite and this is usually done in thâ— space of half an hour but if in that time it bâ— not done then proceed powring on more hoâ— water and do this three or four times in a weeâ— and when the Calx and Dung waxes old let iâ— be removed and new put in the room This is the method which is to be observed iâ— all things that you would distill and thereforâ— it is made digestion because gently and without any vehement motion of nature action or mutation a gross matter is made subtil and obedient to distillation Digestives are also ordained diversly according to the four degrees of heat so
and leave no humidity in the Vessel it is distilled enough When this matter is thus digested and rectified put it in a Pellican or a Vessel called the Vessel of Hermes luted and cemented with strong lute so that the strength of the matter cannot evaporate but by the frequent ascention and descention of the matter in the Vessel it is converted into a pure Quintessence and becomes from a corruptible matter in a manner incorruptible And when it hath many times been sublimed after that manner in the said distillatory then open the mouth of the Pellican and there will ascend out a most precious and fragrant Odour by which you may know whether there be any of the four Elements remaining in the matter which ought to be converted into the Quintessence For if it be brought to a perfect Quintessence there will arise out of the Circulatory a most fragrant and precious Odour even of a celestial fragrancy and sweetness And if this fume enter into any secret place of the house it will fill the whole house with an admirable and most incredible savour being of such heavenly sweetness and fragrancy and if it be set on the top of any tower Omnes Aves ad se attrahet quae circa sunt in Viciniis But if when it is opened it give not such a scent then close again the mouth of the Pellican and lute it well and set it again to distil as before until by that effect a perfect Quintessence appears or as Raimund Lully Lib. 1. Cap. 2. a vegetable Mercury which you may alwayes know by its odour And it hath not onely an excellent odour and taste but is also incorruptible as to other Medicines and doth not burn in the mouth as Aqua vitae neither hath it any humidity or earthly substance for all the terrestrial and elementary matter remains in the bottom And as the Heaven it self is composed of matter and form so also is the Quintessence Nevertheless it is not altogether free from corruption for if it were perfectly incorruptible it would make our bodies perpetual and eternal which the Creator hath not permitted to the Creatures since he hath measured out the term of our life as saith the Psalmographer therefore when any matter is converted into a Quintessence it is not become divine but natural nevertheless it is made by the divine help and assistance of God without whom nothing is made Chap. 15. An easie way to extract a Quintessence without Fire WHen in this excellent Work you would avoid expence and save that which is more precious the loss of time and would extract the Quintessence after this double way you may do it without fire or coals The first way is this Take Horse-dung and impose it in some large deep vessel or in a pit as before is directed made for this purpose and in the middle of the dung place the distillatory impleted with the matter that is to be distilled two thirds and let the third part remain empty without the dung because nature requires it that the matter may have its ascent and descent and may by consequence be converted into a most clear water And this is done without any labour or fire but you ought once in a weak at least to renew the dung It may be also done in the Sun in the Canicular or Dog dayes so that divine Providence hath provided that both rich and poor may have the operation of this Art Chap. 16. To extract the Quintessence of Celandine CHelidonia or Celandine according to Raymund Lully c. is called Quasi Coelidonum as a gift of Heaven but if we will derive its Etymology from the Greeks Pliny and Aristotle say that Chelidonia takes it name from the greek word Celidon which signifies a Swallow for with this herb the Swallows help their young ones to their sight in their nests And this herb flourishes at the coming of Swallows and dies at their departure This herb hath innumerable vertues and therefore I thought not fit to omit it in this work The juyce of it being pressed and strained out and gently boiled with Honey in a vessel upon hot embers is a singular remedy against all scales of the eyes But to make the Quintessence thereof take of Celandine in the Summer time when it is at its maturity and green the whole substance flower herb and root what quantity you please cut it small and beat it in a stone Mortar then put it in an earthen Cucurbite well glazed fill the Cucurbite quite full luting it well then set it in new Horse-dung to ferment and digest by the space of three weaks then put it on an Alembick and distil it in Balneo Mariae let thâ—â— to be somewhat moderate and the Phlegme will come off and the other Elements will remain in the bottom of the distillatory then take out the Feces and work them upon a Marble till you have made them as fine and subtle as possible then put them again into the vessel and pour upon them the Phlegme which you first distilled off from them and put them in a blinde Alembick let them be very well luted and set in Balneo Mariae seven or eight dayes to putrifie and digest Or if you think that way too chargeable ferment it in Horse-dung this being done let the matter stand and cool a while then distil it in ashes in an Alimbeck with a receiver and there will arise a pure water of the colour of Oyl which contains in it self two Elements to wit the Air and Water the other two viz. the Fire and Earth residing in the bottom And if you would separate the Phlegm from the Air put the Oyl in a new distillatory and distil it in Balneo Mariae with a gentle fire and you shall see the Phlegme ascend and the Oyl will reside in the distillatory and thus you have these two Elements the Air and Water separarated one from another For the Oyl will not ascend in Balneo because the fire is not powerful enough And when you would seperate the other two Elements take the Feces out of which you have distilled the oyl and bruise them upon a marble as at first afterwards take four parts of Phlegm and one part of Feces and incorporate them together then set them in a furnace in Balneo 7. days and afterwards distil them in sand with a strong fire and there will arise a red water continue your distillation till it is converted into that water and you have in that water two Elements viz. Fire and Water and the Earth remains in the bottom of the Cucurbite as a black matter then put that red water in another Cucurbite and distil it in Balneo Mariae and the Phlegme will be separated from it and in the bottom of the Vessel will remain a red Oyl which is the Element of fire and thus you have 〈◊〉 four Elements severally extracted and sepaâ—ated one from another Then let the earth be calcined with
Aqua â—â—tis the space of ten dayes that it may be well â—â—citated afterwards grinde it again upon a â—arble and imbibe it with the same Phlegm â—â—d distil it in an Alimbeck till in the matter â—ou shall perceive white little stones like salt â—issolve this salt again with the water you have â—istilled and when it is dissolved distil it again â—epeating it so often untill the earth lose all its 〈◊〉 pure and terrene colour and become white 〈◊〉 Virgins wax and then it is truly rectified There is also another more subtil way to reâ—â—ce and bring every Element into his chief subâ—â—ance and Quintessence it being presupposed â—â—at every Element is first rectified then let it â—e taken and put in a Circulatory Vessel and 〈◊〉 in Horse-dung or in Balneo Mariae thirty â—â—yes and afterwards distil it again then its â—ody being as it were a gross matter will be â—â—nged into a spirit or most substil substance There are some who operate after a more â—â—sie manner by taking four parts of Earth and â—â—e part of one of the four Elements which you â—â—ll and digest them in forme aforesaid and cirâ—â—late them thirty dayes by a frequent ascension â—â—d descension of the matter which is done in â—â—e Circulatory in that space of time so as every â—â—e of the Elements is converted into a Quinâ—â—â—sence and when you perceive the Quintesâ—â—â—ce to swim above the other matter then it is circulated enough and thus you have thâ— way to extract the Quintessence of Chelidonia it follows now to declare the virtues thereof The Element therefore of Water or thâ— Phlegm conduces to expel all diseases of the body whether hot or cold for it temperates thâ— veins about the heart and expells all poisoâ— therefrom it cures all accidental diseases of thâ— Lungs purifies the blood and preserves the natural virtue of man from all corruption anâ— abateth the malignity of any infirmity The Element of fire is like Oyl and hath theâ— virtues it confirmes and preserves youth in iâ— strength and beauty because it suffers not anâ— blood to putrifie it expells all salt Phlegâ— and Melancholly and wonderfully takes awaâ— all Adust Choller The Element of fire the quantity of oâ— Grain thereof being taken and incorporatâ— with good Wine and applyed to the Neck 〈◊〉 one that is sick nay a dying hath this efficacy it recovers and restores again all the lost powâ— and strength of the body it penetrates unâ— the heart and calefies it and expells all poisoâ— and superfluous moisture from the heart if yoâ— give a man a grain of this Oyl that is an Agâ—ny of death it will immediately revive him 〈◊〉 a miraculous manner saith Lullyus There are also others who do likewise extract a Quint essence from Chelidonia after aâ—other manner by taking the Herb Rooâ— and Flower of Celandine and weigh it reseâ—ving the weight for its time then cut it smaâ—â— and infuse it in Fountain-water then boil it till it is reduced to its former weight this being done beat it in a stone Mortar and strain out the juyce take away the Feces and boil the rest unto the thickness of Honey and then the matter will be prepared to separate the four Elements one from another which to do put it in a â—ucurbite filling him half full and lute an Alimbeck upon it the best way you can and distil it in Balneo Mariae with a gentle fire so that the water may be separated from the matter Then place the Distillatory in ashes and another water will be separated from it which is like oyl and when you see the oyl swim on the top the third time remove the receiver and apply another to receive that Oyl which is the fire And thus you have the three Elements separated viz. Water Air and Fire and the Earthly substance remains in the bottom of the vessel as it were a combust matter now reserve every one of these Elements in a vessel by its self and when you would rectifie any one of them to make it medicinal distil the water seven times in an Alembick and in every distillation wash the Cucurbite from its remaining Feces and admix them with the earthly Element and distil them in Balneo Mariae and let the vessel wherein that water is reserved be well luted After this manner you may also rectifie the Air by a seplenary reiteration in ashes alwayes mixing the Feces with the Earth so likewise may you temperate and rectifie the fiery Element and this is the third Oyl which must also be kept in a vessel close shut and so musâ— all the rest The work being thus done and perfected wâ— proceed to demonstrate and shew the nature and vertues thereof The vertue and quality of the watry substance is to expel all venomous heaâ— from the Breast and to mundifie the Blood to open all oppilations of the Lungs and Liver to evacuate Phlegm and superfluous humours The Oyl of the Air conserves youth strength and beauty suffers not the blood to putrifie noâ— Melancholly to rule nor Choller to burn noâ— Phlegm to abound in mans body but increases the blood and disperses it through all the members of the body it is very penetrating It is good also if any one be in danger of losing the sight of an Eye drop a drop oâ— two thereof into the Eye every day and in thirty dayes you shall see a wonderful effect But the quality of the fiery Oyl is of much more efficacy and vertue then the two other it wonderfully preserves old men and keeps back old age calefies the blood recreates the heart preserves a man from death and restores youth And if it be taken with Aqua Sîliginis it is said to be the Elixer of life The earthly matter being rectified three times by dissolutions coagulations and calcinations is a subtle salt of earth with which all Metals may be transmâ—â—ted into Stone and wherewith all Spirits are fixed having radical moisture The manner of taking this Medicine is this Take Ignis Chelidoniae gutta 3. Aqua Rosarum coclearia 3. sumantur stomacho jejuno If the infirmity be cold give it in Wine if the party exceed twenty four years of age give it in Aqua vitae but in burning Feavers in no wise administer to the Patient Chap. 17. To extract a Quintessence from Mans Blood Eggs Flesh or the like TO extract a Quintessence of humane blood take the blood of a man of a sanguine Complexion or Chollerick that is sound and healthy of Middle-age and one that drinks good Wine when he is newly phlebotomized and when the blood resides in the bottom of the vessel separate the water from the blood and labour it in a convenient vessel with its tenth part of common Salt and labour them well together and inclose it in a Pellican Afterwards set it in a bed of Horse-dung and Calx viva about five foot deep and two foot broad having one laying of the Calx and another of
Dung as before we have directed concerning digestion and let it be fermented there one Moon or thereabouts according as the season is and when you see the matter to be resolved into water and the gross substance residing in the bottom of the Pellican to be separated quite from the water then take it out of the dung and put it in Balneo Mariae with an Alimbeck and distil it with a gentle fire as before is spoken of the Quintessence of Wine And when you have performed the first distillation mix it again with the Feces which remain in the Distillatory and let it putrifie again in the dung until you see the pure to be separated from the impure and the pure and subtle matter to swim above the Feces And if the season be fair and clear let it putrifie a longer time then if it were cloudy or rainy weather This being done distil it again the second time then mix it again with the Feces to digest and then distil it repeating this course four times over at least After the fourth distillation circulate it a long time in the same manner as you do the Quintessence of Wine till it come to the perfection and purity of a Quintessence of humane blood which hath a noble vertue to sustain humane nature in all infirmities and free the body from all Diseases Let this therefore suffice to have spoken concerning humane blood If you would also extract a Quintessence from Flesh or Eggs let the Flesh be finely and subtly minced and then bray it in a Mortar with a tenth part of common Salt In like manner let the Eggs be beat in a Mortar with alt till they be reduced into water afterwards put them in a Cucurbite and place thereupon a blinde Alimbeck and worâ— in all things in digestion fermentation and distillation as is directed touching humanâ— blood Chap. 18. To draw a Quintessence from Apples Pears and other fruits IF you would draw a Quintessence from Apples Prunes Cherries Chestnuts or such kinde of Fruits first cut them small with a knife then beat them in an earthen Mortar and incorporate them well with the tenth part of common Salt afterwards put them in a Cucurbite and place thereupon a blinde Alimbeck well luted and set it in Horse-dung to putrifie as before is spoken concerning humane blood and then the vertue and excellency of the Fruit cometh forth out of its essence which lies occult in the matter and when it is separated from its Feces and gross matter it is reduced to a certain immaterial and incorrupt matter deservedly by Philosophers called the Quintessence of Fruits and hath an hundred times greater vertue then it had before when it was an Elementary Body Chap. 19. To extract a Quintessence from Flowers Herbs and Roots IF you would separate a Quintessence from the four qualities of Flowers Herbs and Roots take them when they are at their full maturity with their whole substance in a clear and serene season the Moon increasing near the full for then the Herbs are more free from corruption and after you have cut them small beat them in a Marble Morter with the tenth part of salt and impose in a circulatory Let it ferment in Horse-dung a moneth renewing the dung once a week then at the monthes end take it out of the dung place upon it a blinde Alimbeck and distil it in Balneo Mariae augmenting the fire to the third degree then reserving the distilled water take the feces and pulverize them finely afterwards powre the distilled water upon the feces and again set on a blinde Alembick luting all well distil them as at first in Balneo Mariae abating the fire half a degree Afterwards pulverize the feces again and powre on them the distilled water let it digest again and distil it the third time and putrifie it alwayes abating the fire half a degree decrease also the putrifaction half a degree alwayes see that in the second digestion it putrifie one and twenty dayes in the third fourteen dayes and in the fourth eight so that it is to be fermented four times After the fourth distillation is performed put it in a Circulatory and bury it in Horse-dung or in Balneo making the fire in the first degree or it may also be set in the Sun in Summer and circulated there one moneth or a little more while the superfluous humidity of the four qualities is quite digested consumed and resolved in the Circulatory by frequent ascension and descension and thus you have a Quintessence wherein consists the greatest vertue of Herbs Flowers and Roots You may do it likewise after the same manner as Chelidonia and it will be the stronger Chap. 20. How to distill Vinegar and mans Vrine wherein all calcined Metals may be resolved WE have already declared that Sol may be dissolved in distilled Vinegar we come now to describe the manner of distilling the Vinegar for there is a great difference between the distillation of Aqua vitae and Vinegar for in Aqua vitae the better substance is first distilled but in Vinegar it is last take therefore the best Vinegar you can get put it in a Cucurbite and set thereon an Alimbeck and distill it in ashes or in sand or in Balneo Mariae with a gentle fire until no more water will come forth taste the water often upon your Tongue if it be very sharp with a kinde of ucerdacity or biting then it is time to remove the receiver and put another in his place which is to be well luted and augment the fire a little and when you see little white lines as it were little Clouds in the Alimbeck continue distilling until the spirits do arise the Vapors whereof you shall see arise unto the top of the Cucurbite and pass out of the Alimbeck into the receiver but when you see as it were drops of blood in the Limbeck then apply another receiver and let it distil until all that sanguine matter be come into the receiver and this matter is very fetid smelling of Combustion and therefore is not fit to resolve Calcined Sol to make Aurum potabile but good to tinge mettals because the fetor of the Combustion will adhere to the substance of the Sun whereby the Aurum potabile will be corrupted But if you would distill mans Urine wherein leaves of Gold or Calcined Gold may be dissolved from which the Urine being so distilled may be extracted a colour to make the Aurum potabile so much spoken of which hath an excellenâ— virtue against the Gout the feet being twice or thrice in a day bathed therewith and let dry of themselves it is good also for such as are Ptysical and for many other diseases which for brevities sake I omit Take therefore the Urine of a man of a sanguine complexion or a sound Choller one that drinks good Wine and is not above thirty five years of age distil it four times by an Alimbeck in Balneo Mariae
Lavender and Sage an three drams and take every morning fasting Diapliris cum moscho Nicholai For deafness drop of this water every morning and evening into the ear and rest upon that ear that it may go out again For Worms in the ears take of this water half an ounce Juyce of Rue two drams or if you cannot get the Juyce take the distilled water thereof adding a little Aloes Epatick subtilly powdred And of this distil a little into the ear morning and evening lying upon the other side and after a little time turn and lie upon that side where the Wormes are and they will come forth and dye For the eyes take of the aforesaid water half an ounce Fennel-water and water of Valerian of each one dram drop thereof into the eyes For filth of the mouth or nose give every day half an ounce thereof with white Wine in which Mints and Roses have been boiled For the Epilepsie drink thereof every day half an ounce with Peony-water one ounce or thus Take the Root and seeds of Peony Viscus Quercinus of each equal parts boil them in white Wine and give them to the Patient with the said water For the Palsie foment all the members with this water and drink thereof every morning one ounce For lost speech take of the said water half an ounce waters of Lavander Peony Sage of each two drams drink it and take of Mithridate one dram with Wine wherein Castoreum hath been boyled Against Melancholly take of the aforesaid water half an ounce with the waters of Bugloss and Balm each two drams waters of Harts-tongue and Borrage each one dram mix them together and drink it three hours before dinner Against the Dropsie take of the said water one part water of Elder-flowers two parts Fennel water three parts mix them together and take for a Dose half an ounce For the Stone take of this water one part Saxifrage-water Wintercherry-water Aqua Millii solis Rhadish-water of each two parts Against Sterrility take of this water two drams of white Wine water of Rosemary and Mother-wort each two drams drink it morning and evening and twice or thrice in a week take Diamargarit sem Avicenna Many other excellent vertues hath this celestial water which I omit here for brevities sake leaving them to manifest themselves by experience FINIS The Table to the several Treatises of the whole Book The English Apothecary The transcendent sufficiency of English Herbs being fundamental Reasons PRoving our Medicines to be most congruent with our bodies and the great prejudice we daily receive by the use of forreign Drugs as also by their sophistication to which Fuchsius Martino Rulandus c. agree page 35 The correcting of Scamony of its malignity page 19 Of Mechoaca and Opium and the prejudice we receive thereby unless well corrected page 21 Of Rhubarb and its properties page 24 The inconveniency of drinking Wine and that of Honey may be made a better and more wholesome drink page 31 Of Milk and its vertues page 41 The cure of Poysons by venomous beasts with Peniroyal Treyfoil c. page 42 The cure of the Prench-Pox not onely with Sarsaparilla but with the essence of Primroses and Cowslips page 43 The rare vertue of Cink-foyl Worms Wood-lice or Sowes Lichenes c. For the cure of Tertian-Agues Falling-sickness Tooth-ach c. page 44 To cure the bitings of venomous beasts by the decoction of Frogs page 44 53 To cure Cankers by the juyce of Nightshade page 49 To cure the Leprosie with Plantane and its vertues page 50 To cure the Falling-sickness with Misleto Peony-root a mans skull c. page 50 The cure of Poysons in particular page 51 52 The cure of the Pestilence page 52 The cure of hot diseases by contrariety page 54 The cure of cold diseases by contrariety ib. The cure of moist diseases page 55 The cure of dry diseases ib. Rules to be observed in cures page 55 56 Of purgations and their manner both by vomit and stool page 56 Preparatives for the Humors before evacuation c. page 60 The cure of Wounds and the broken Bones by Herbs c. page 61 Of Anodines Causticks Emmolients c. page 62 63 The occult properties of sundry Herbs being appropriated to the Head Heart Liver Spleen Stomach Lungs c. ib. That the Brain is comforted by Herbs as well as by Spices page 68 The sovereign vertues of Carduus Benedictus with its use or manner of taking it page 71 Of the sovereign vertues of Angelica with its temperature and use page 79 A discourse shewing what members of the body are governed by the twelve Signs page 82 Of the members of the body and how they are governed by the seven Planets page 184 A brief accompt of some simples appropriated to the Heart page 186 The Chyrurgeons guide or the errors of unskilful Chyrurgeons page 195 The first error of their curing the Lues venerea or French-Pox page 195 The second error when the disease cometh to suppuration page 198 The third error is concerning Wounds in the Breast page 201 4. Of their applications of Trepans Terribelles for fractures of the head page 203 5. Touching the punctures of Nerves page 204 6. Of the abuse by Runners or Cutters of the Stone and Ruptures page 205 Of the eight kinds of Hernies or Ruptures page 207 Of the Hernie Intestinale page 208 Of the Hernie Zirbale page 209 Of the relaxation of the Peretoneum called Herni Inquinale page 210 Of the kinds of Hernies which be by similitudes or improperly called page 211 Of Hernie Verequose page 212 Of the Herni Ventose ib. Of the Hernie Humorale page 213 Phlebotomy Displayed or perfect Rules for letting of Blood page 214 With Physical cautions for Blood-letting page 219 Vrinal conjectures or brief observations upon the sick Patients staie or water page 222 Of Vomits page 225 Of the Excrements page 226 The Treasury of health or Salves for every sore with their cures page 227 For the falling out of the Fundament page 229 For the Liver page 231 For the Dropsie page 231 For the Spleen page 333 For the Yellow-Jaundies page 235 For the Stone page 236 For the Strangury page 239 For the Vlcers in the Yard page 241 For the Diabetes page 242 For the Swelling of the Gods page 243 For the Pleurisie page 244 For to provoke the Tearms page 244 For to stop the Tearms page 247 For the Fits of the Mother page 248 For the Swelling of the Breasts page 249 For Child-birth page 251 For the Gout page 453 Foa the Fistula or Vlcer page 256 For the Leprosie page 258 For the Warts page 259 For Thorns Splinters c. page 260 The expert Lapidary or a Physical Treatise of the vertues of Stones page 265 Of Jacinth and its vertues 265. The Saphir 264 Emrald ibid. The Ruby 265 Granat 266. Sardine ibid. Diamond 266 Amethist 267. Bezoar ibid. Topaz 268. Snakes-Stone ibid. Toads-stone 269 Alectorius ibid.
Eggs and Milk is not good for him he must abstain from eating of fresh Beef and from eating of Goose Duck water Fowl and Pigeons and in no wise to eat Venison not Hare-flesh and such like Diet for those that are troubled with the Falling-sickness WHosoever hath any of the kindes of Falling-sickness he must abstain from eating of white meats especially of milk he must refrain from drinking of Wine new Ale and strong Ale to eat the fatness of fish nor the heads of fish the which ingenders Rhume shell fish Eels Salmon Herring and Viscus fishes are not good for Epilentick persons also such must refrain from eating of Garlick Onions Leeks Chibols and all Vaporous meats the which do hurt the head Venison Hare-flesh Beef Beans and Pease are not good and if they know that they are infected with this great sickness they should not resort where there is great store of company as in the Church Sessions or Market places if they do the sickness will infect them more there then in any other place or at any other time they must beware they do not sit too nigh the fire for the fire will overcome them and will induce the disease they must beware of lying too hot in bed or to labour extreamly for such things cause the grief to come the ofter Diet for the Head Ache MAny sicknesses or infirmities and impediments may be in a mans head wherefore whosoever hath any distemper in the head must not keep the head too hot nor too cold but in an equal temper to beware of ingendring of Rhume which is the cause of many infirmities there is nothing that doth ingender Rhume so much as doth the fatness of fish and the heads of fish and surfeits and taking cold in the feet and taking cold in the nape of the neck or head also they which have an infirmity in the head must refrain from immoderate sleep specially after meat also they must abstain from drinking of wine and use not to drink Ale and Beer the which is over strong vociferation hallowing crying and high singing is not good for the head all things the which are vaporours or do fume are not good for the head all things the which are of evil savour as carrion sinks wide draughts piss-bowls snuff of candles dunghills stinking channels and stinking standing waters and stinking marshes with such contagious Airs doth hurt the head the brain and memory all odoriferous savours are good for the head the brain and the memory Diet in a Consumption HE that is in a consumption must abstain from all sowre and tart things as Vinegar and Alegar and such like and also he must abstain from eating of gross meats the which are hard and slow of digestion and use cordials and restoratives and nutrative meats all meats and drinks the which are sweet and that sugar is in are nutrative wherefore sweet wines are good for them the which are in consumptions moderately taken and sowre Wine sowre Ale and sowre Beer are naught for they fret away nature and let them beware that be in a Consumption of fried and burnt meat which is over rosted and in any wise let them shun anger and pensiveness These things following are good for a Consumption a Pig or a Cock stewed and made in a Jelly Cockrels stewed Goats Milk and Sugar Almond Milk in the which Rice is sodden and Rabbets stewed c. Diet for those that are short winded SHortness of winde cometh divers times of Impediments in the Lungs and streightness in the Breast opilated through viscus Phlegm when the head is stuffed with Rhume called the Pus stoppeth the breath of his natural course wherefore he that hath shortness of breach must abstain from eating of Nuts especially if they be old Cheese and Milk is not good for such no more is Fish and Fruit raw nor crude Herbs Also all manner of meat which is hard of digestion they must refrain from eating of Fish especially from eating Fish which will cleave to the fingers and is viscus and Phlegmy and in any wise to beware of the skins of Fish and of all manner of meat the which doth ingender Phlegm Also they must beware of cold and when any house is a sweeping to go out of the house for a space into a clean air The dust also that riseth in the Streets through the vehemence of the wind or otherwise is bad for them smoak is evil for them and so is all things that are stopping Wherefore it is expedient for them to be kept laxative Diet for the Palsie THey which have the Palsie universal or particular must beware of anger testiness and of too much passion whether of fear or otherwise for through anger or fear divers times the Palsie doth come also they must beware of Drunkenness and eating of Nuts coldness contagious and stinking and filthy airs of lying upon the ground the savour of Castory and the savour of a Fox is good against the Palsie Diet for Mad Folks THere is none which hath any of the kindes of Madness but they ought to be kept up for divers inconveniences that may otherwise happen to be confined in some close house or chamber where there is no light and that he have a Keeper the which the mad man doth fear See that he hath no knife nor shears nor other edge-tool nor that he have no girdle except it be a weak list of cloth for hurting himself Also the chamber or house that the mad man is in let there be no painted clothes nor painted walls nor pictures of man or woman or fowl or beast for such things maketh them full of fantasies let the mad persons head be shaven once a moneth let them drink no Wine nor strong Ale nor strong Beer but moderate drink and let them have three times in a day warm Broth and a little warm Meat use few words to them except it be for reprehension or gentle reformation if they have any wit or perceiverance to understand otherwise they must be kept under with sharper correction Diet for the Dropsie THe learned agree that the more one drinks that hath the Dropsie the more he is a thirst for although the sickness doth come by superabundance of water yet the Liver is dry whether it be Alchites Iposarca Lencofflegmancia or the Timpany They that have any of these four kindes of Dropsies must refrain from all things which be constupate and costive and use all things which are laxative Nuts and dry Almonds and hard Cheese are poison to them Of ordering of Surfeits GAlen declaring on Ipocrates Aphorisme of eating too much meat saith More meat then agrees with nature is called Repletion or a Surfeit A Surfeit is taken as well by gurgitations too much drinking as by epulation of eating of crude meat or of more meat then suffices or can be truly digested Or else Repletion or a Surfeit is when the stomach is forced or stuffed or repleated with too