and make a Pouder Let there be one dram hereof taken for the one half of the yeer and for the other half of the yeer half a dram Doctor Johannes Mattheus out of an old Manuscript produceth this Pouder as he there findeth it prescribed Viz. Take Rhapontick one ounce Agarick two ounces Valerian three ounces Macedonian Parsley seed and Spignel of each four ounces Gentian and Aristolochy of each feven ounces Germander nine ounces and make a Pouder Donzellinus his Pouder is as followeth Take Germander Groundpine both the Centauries or only the lesser Marjoram Sage Betony Gentian and Birthwort of each one ounce the best Guajacum eight ounces or one pound and make a Pouder And by this one Remedy alone Donzellinus writeth that the Gout may be perfectly cured provided that a man live not like unto a Sardanapalus Crato his Pouder is this Take Aristolochy one ounce Centaury the less three drams Gentian six drams Spignel five drams St. Johns Wort six drams Parsley of Macedonia half an ounce Agarick two drams Rhapontick or if that may not be had Rheubarb one dram and make a Pouder Of which he giveth in the morning two scruples in the Water of Groundpine or Betony Water with the Syrup of either of the two former in January five daies in February as many in March two in May three in June one in July two in August one in September October November and December two but it matters not much if it be oftener taken only as he saith it wil be somwhat better to take it in the manner aforefaid This following is Doctor Manard his Pouder Take Germander Dittany of Crete Groundpine or Herb Ivy Roots of the greater Centaury and round Aristolochy of each two ounces the inward Rinds of Walnuts one pound make a Pouder The Dose is one dram for forty daies This Pouder next following is attributed unto Erastus Take Harts-horn burnt Beef bones burnt the Kernels of the Citron Dates Jaws of the Luce-fish or Pike equal parts burnt Coral and burnt Ivory of each half parts make hereof a Pouder Unto which for the tasts sake you may add a little Cinnamon Mace and Cloves and with Sugar make a Pouder Johannes Anglicus greatly commendeth this Pouder The Sarracenick Pouder which he calleth the Sarracenick Pouder Take Herb Ivy or Groundpine one ounce the bones of man or woman burnt two drams Liquoris three drams make a Pouder And yet nevertheless the sick person is not strictly and precisely to be tyed unto any forms of Pouders but of the same simple Medicaments there may with Sugar or some convenient Syrup be made Electuaries or Pills which for the most part are very fitly made up with Turpentine of Cyprus since that most of those that are troubled with the Gout are likewise obnoxious and subject unto the Stone or Extracts or those Medicaments they cal Essences or liquid Extracts or a Wine or a Medicate Drink that so in this manner also the palat of the sick person may be pleased Antonius Gallus a Physitian somtimes of Paris greatly commendeth this Electuary Take Valerian one dram Agarick two drams Spignel three drams Macedonian Parsley seed four drams St. Johns wort five drams Gentian six drams Birthwort seven drams the lesser Centaury eight drams Groundpine nine drams Mans bones taken out of the Joynts and moderately dried ten drams with Oxymel Scillitick as much as will suffice make an Electuary the Dose whereof is one dram for a whol yeer together Or. Take the Conserve of Germander three ounces of Herb Ivy and Betony Leaves of each one ounce and half Seeds of St. Johns wort Roots of round Aristolochy of each half an ounce Angelica two drams the bones of a Man prepared red Corals prepared Ivory prepared of each one dram Cloves and Cinnamon of each two drams and with the Syrup of Betony make an Electuary And we may likewise add the Medicaments of latter Physitians viz. their Magisteria their Feculae and their Salts as also Margarites and Crabs Eyes As Take Roots of Spignel or Masterwort St. Johns wort of each one ounce the Feculae of Cuckowpint two drams the Salt of Groundpine of Germander of Cherfoyl and of Masterwort of each one scruple Magistery of Corals and Crabs Eyes of each half a dram Margarites one scruple Sugar as much in weight as all of them and make a Pouder For the causing and provoking morning sweats there are also given Syrups of the Berries of Eldern prepared with Sugar two spoonfuls and if you please there may likewise a little Harts-horn be added Crato commendeth this Distillation of which one spoonful is to be taken every day in the week once if not oftener Take Balm Valerian Juniper Berries of each what you think fit Let them be sprinkled with good sweet Wine then macerated in Balm Water and afterwards destilled And in cold Bodies there may also very conveniently be used that Aquae vitae which Gilbertus Horstius Hollandus once a famous Physitian at Rome made frequent use of and it is thus prepared Take Rosemary flowers the lesser Centaury Comomile flowers Groundpine Gilbertus Hostius his A qua vitae St. Johns wort Germander Asarabacca of each one ounce the Rinde of Dwarf-Elder Root one handful Orace one ounce Treacle half an ounce Cinnamoin Nutmeg Galingal Mace and Ginger of each one dram and half Hermodactyls and Aloes Hepatick of each one dram Agarick half an ounce Coloquintida three drams all the Myrobalans of each two drams Roots of Polypody of the Oak one ounce and half Leaves of Choyce Sene one ounce Seeds of Anise Dauk and Fenel of each one dram infuse them in the spir it of Wine that so the said spirit may lie a fingers breadth above them for two daies space and then let them be afterwards destilled in Balneo Mariae Of this Water he gave unto such as had the Gout from one ounce to three ounces in the morning But now in the Judgment of very many of Decoction of Groundpine may serve in stead of all the aforesaid Medicaments The Decoction of Ground pine and will do better than any one of them and therefore it was likewise highly commended unto the Emperor Charls the fifth by the Physitians of Genoa and Solenander in his fifth Sect. Consil 1. tels us that it hath been found by experience that very many which had drunk of this Decoction for the space of threescore daies have been wholly freed from the Gout and restored unto their healths whereas before they had both the Joynts of their hands and of their feet also grievously afflicted and tortured by this Disease And no wonder for it attenuateth the thick Humors and consumeth them driveth forth the Excrements by Urine or else by sweat evidently or else it insensibly discusseth them by transpiration and it strengtheneth also all the internal bowels and every kind of Nerve yea and the whole habit of the Body But because that Vesalius writeth so largely and
quality of the liquor for some boyl the wood in water some in Barly water some in distilled waters others in wine others in Whey and others in broth of Flesh L. Septalius lib. 7. adnimadu nu 204. reprehends those who deny that the decoction of this wood may be made in wine only when as nothing is more fit to extract the faculties of medicines than wine and the water of wine he had spoke righter than the spirit of wine and therefore he prepares his decoction with wine which he useth when the disease is inveterate with an evil habit of body and a cold matter predominant after this manner eight ounces of the bark of the best holy wood grossely poudered being infused in forty two physical pints of the best white wine for two days the wine being first heated and alwaies kept hot those two days in a double vessel or in the ashes afterwards with a slow fire boyl it away in a double vessel to the consumption of the third part which let the sick make use of both in the morning instead of a syrup and for his drink at meales let him take in the morning seven ounces an hour after move sweat but at dinner and supper let him not exceed fourteen ounces But though we grant that wine is most commodious to extract the vertues of vegetables yet this cannot be denied that by boyling the strength of wine doth vanish and when the spirit is exhaled there is left a nauseous phlegme less profitable than plain simple water And therefore I am of that opinion that either the wood is to be boyled in water and towards the end the wine is to be added or else the wood is only to be a long while infused in wine or to be boyled in a double vessel that nothing be lost but by no means to the Consumption of the third part Therefore most commonly and rightly the decoction is made in pure water which doth both a little correct the Heat and driness of the Medicine and further the distribution and provocation of sweat yet if the body and especially the stomach be cold and weak and the Patient accustomed to wine Wine is not unprofitably mixt with it as was said even now and shal be said hereafter for by the admistion of Wine the stomach is less hurt and the vertue of the Medicine doth the easier penetrate to al the parts And a different proportion of the wood to the water is observed according to the age constitution of the body and season of the year The proportion of wood to the water and they take to twelve pound of water from three ounces of the wood to twelve for if the season of the year and the body be hot 't is safest to take a less quantity of the wood and in a longer time to perfect the Cure than by too strong a Medicine to damnesie the patient especially at the beginning of the cure and before the superfluous Humors in the body be abated and sweat begin to flow easily and exquisitly and the patient be accustomed to the Decoction afterwards by degrees you may take more of the Wood which unless it be observed the Patient is easily brought into danger And Eustachius Rudius writes Lib. 5. de Morb. occult Cap. 13. That he hath seen patients who by this error viz. too great a quantity of the wood given on the first daies have fallen into a Feaver that afterwards they have been forced to abstaine from the use of the decoction to their great detriment but where there is no such thing to be feared in those of ripe years we commonly add to one pound of the wood rasped or turned smal twelve pound of water in an earthen Vessel glased and let it infuse twenty four hours in a warm place afterwards the vessel being wel covered boyle it with a gentle fire til half or the third part remain and let the decoction cool in this vessel stil covered afterwards strain it Fallopius Lib. de morb Galli cap. 46. After what manner 't is to be boyled disputes whether it be better to boyle it with an open fire or in a double vessel as was said or in Balneo Mariae and reprehends them who hold that the decoction made in Balneo is more dilute or less powerful and that the decoction made in Balneo is more excellent than that which is made with an open fire he endeavors to prove by the example of distilled waters which by the balneum are made most excellent when as there is no adustion in them but the greater eliquation which is made in that hot and moist doth render the decoction more excellent but experience teacheth otherwise which reason also doth confirme For though out of some moister plants as Roses Violets Lilly of the vallies and the like being fresh whose vertue consists in the volatile part as the Chymists speak the best waters are made in balneo without the affusion of water yet in hotter plants especially in Roots and woods whose vertue consists in the oyly part their vertue can never be extracted by the too gentle heat of a Balneum as happens also in many seeds but they must be distilled by a †Vesica through which by the vehicle of the water A chymical Vessel those more fixed parts may be elevated when as then the whol vertue of Guajacum doth consist in that oyly and rozeny part and there is need of strong boyling that that may be extracted the gentle heat of a Bolneum cannot do it but it must be boyled in an open fire which nevertheless causeth no adustion if there be added a sufficient quantity of water Some for the better gust and that the bitterness and acrimony may be abated a little before 't is boyled enough add of Raison and Liquorish of each one ounce and you may add Sugar or some Julep to rellish it Aurelius Minadous de virulen Vener Cap. 4. holds the Decoction ought chiefly to be Dulcorated with Honey for he thinks that a smal quantity of Honey if it be boyled with it and Skimmed wil rebate al the bitterness and the Decoction acquire a greater power to cleanse attenuate open and make fusil the Humors and strengthen the parts which we grant may take place in phlegmatick bodies and especially in a cold stomach so whenas honey doth easily turn to Choller we think it cannot safely be used in chollerick bodies hot and dry but more conveniently and safely Raisons Liquorish or Sugar Some also in those who have a hot and dry Liver do add towards the end of the decoction a root or two of Succory one or two handfuls of Endive Sowthistle but whenas such decoctions are to be continued along while we must have a care least by the admistion of such things they be made ingrateful and provoke nauseousness in the Patient besides whenas for the most part there is boyled at one time Decoction enough for many daies but the
grease be most exactly mixed with the mercury then ad the mastick finelypoudered together with the oyl of mastick and Safforn and afterwards the aples through ripe cleansed from the parings and core Or Take of mercury killed with spitle three ounces old oyl four ounces of Frankincense prepared as common mastick two ounces mastick one ounce hogs-greese two ounces and half oyl of bayes one ounce and half virgins wax two ounces ointment of diaitbaea one ounce and half sagapen one ounce of wax as much as is sufficient Make an Ointment Or Take of mercury two ounces of hogsgrease three ounces turpentine one ounce pouder of orice franqincense mastickeach two drams oyl of chamemel white lillies bayes of each two aunces Stirax half an ounce mix them Or Take of hens hogs and beares greace each one ounce oyl of white lillies bayes each two ounces mercury six ounces mix the greases in a morter after wards ad the mercury and stir them an houre in the morter then ad of frankincense mastick myrrh amoniacum stirax pouder of Arabick lavinder each half a dram make an ungnent The Places which are anointed are the joynts and the spaces between and the less fleshy parts in the hands elbows feet knees sometimes in strong bodies the emunctories of the liver are anointed and the backbone Fallopius expects the hands and first of al anoints the feet transversly about the begining of the feet afterwards the spaces between the joynts of the leg then the midle of the thighs The time for anointing the middle of the Elbow bones and the midle of the Armes afterwards the whole back The most commodious time for anointing is the spring and autum the winter and summer are less convenient and the unction is to be performed in the morning upon an empty stomach in a close and warm place beginning at the lower parts and so passing to the upper unction is seldom ordered twice on the sameday The patient anointed must either be ropped up in linnen or the parts anointed be covered with course flax or hemp and so the patient be placed in his bed How long unction is to be continued But the unction is to be continued so long til salivation or a loosness or some other evaccuation succeed and the symptomes be lessened and cease and truely if a loosness follow it is not suddenly to be supprest yet we must have a care least the guts suffer any hurt casting in by Clyster chaly beat milk or the juyce of ptisan with milk or the decoction of barley and afterwards if need require come to astringent meanes Some think that sweat alsoought to be moved but if nature tend to salivation t is not convenient to move sweat least there be contrary motions caused but if nature of her own accord tend to sweat t is not to be hindered yet unction is scarce to be continued above three dayes at one time sometimes also there presently follow greivous symptomes as great ulcers of the mouth swellings and inflamation of the tongue and jawes the swallowing is hurt the teeth loosened an extraordinary flux of virulent humors from the mouth a diaâ—rhy or dicentery and then we must presently forbear anointing yet sometimes it hapens but very sildom that no such greivous symptom followes But only sweats and pustles are multeplied al over the body When unction is now perfected and the spitle runs wel What is to be done after unction let the parts anointed be washt with wine in which sage Arabick lavender flowers rosmary grownd pine bayleaves calamint origanum have bin boyled afterwards lay upon them some plaister for the nerves At last when the unction is past we must use our endeavor that the mercury be not left in the body and that no evil be contracted neither in the mouth nor other parts and therefore we must move sweat in a Laconick bath keep gold money in the mouth shaveings of gold must be dranke or bullets or pils made up of lease gold must be swallowed for the mercury is imbibed by the gold and with it is emptied out of the body and so al evil that might happen is prevented To asswage pain the mouth and jawes must be washed with warme milk or the Decoction of Barley to hinder inflamation let the patient use the decoction of plantaine or plantaine water or of Vine leaves with the syrup of Mulberries and dry roses the teeth must be washed with the decoction of sage or with Sage columbine water or austere wine after unction we must not presently desist from the cure but the decoction of Guajacum as being the alexipharmacum of this disease must be drank stil for certain days which if it be intermitted a relapse is wont easily to follow upon it Secondly Mercurial plaisters emplasters made of mercury are wont to be applyed in this disease which though they cause less trouble yet they are less effectual to empty by spitting They are prepared of the same matter of which the ointments are to which also we may ad cinnabar but quicksilver either is mixt with usual plaisters as diachylum Ireatum melilot or new ones are compounded The plaister called de ranis with mercury is also in use These plaisters are spred upon linnen cloth leather and are applyed to the same places as the ointments especially to the hands and feet also to the emunctories and somtimes to the back bone and they are worne continually night and day and every third or fourth day are renewed this cure is less troublesome and upon faire daies the patient may go abroad yet the cure is not so perfect and therefore must be continued longer Thirdly Lavatoris of mercury Linnen clothes wet in mercury water are applyed to the same places in the forme of an epitheme and because sublimate is most commodiously dissolved in water the same places which are wont to be anointed are besmeared with mercury dissolved in this manner which medicines are commonly called lavatories which are prepared of mercurius sublimate one ounce which is disolved in two pound of some liquor For Examples sake Take of Mercury sublimate one ounce of Scabious Rose Fumitory water each eight ounces Sage water four ounces Let them boyl and be mixed The use of it is this with a cloth wet in this liquor let the knees and feet be besmeared and the armes from the elbow towards the hands and that must be done in the morning and towards the evening in a warme place and continued for ten days til spitting follow Fourthly Mercurial girdles and bracelets Girdles and bracelets are made of Mercury killed with spittle and mixt with the white of an egg which mixture is spred upon cotton and that is sowed into leather or cloath and of that girdles or bracelets are made Fiftly Also this disease is cured by suffumigations made of quicksilver but this way of cure is more dangerous than that by unction Suffumigations of mercury nay it
in like manner dissolved in Wine or some other liquor And whereas Adrian Spigelius writeth that he saw when a Mans Urine being kept till it was Stale was laid upon the part affected the pains as yet abiding and continuing even in their heighth and that it was wonderfully beneficiall in giving ease and how much rather then must the Salt of Urine perform this Yea and there are some that use likewise other Salts to evacuate the aforefaid Humor And I my self know also one that was wont to administer the spirit of Salt tempered with other liquors And very fitly may it be tempered with the Water of Meadowsweet for being then with a Feather laid upon the part in pain it extracteth the Humor in such a manner as that it may even seem to exhale in the likeness of a Vapor Yea some there are that commend also those things that are wont to be made use of for the causing of redness in any part and the raising of blisters when there is occasion and these they mingle with Anodynes Neither are these things the inventions of the latter Physitians and the Modern Chymists but that plants abounding with a volatile and sharp Salt were heretofore in use likewise with the Ancients for the curing of the Gout we are taught even by that one plant which we call Lepidium or Sciatica Cresses whose Roots as they write being bruised and mingled with old Grease are with singular benefit applied unto those that are troubled with these pains of the Gout as it appeareth out of Dioscorides and Damocrates whose verses upon this subject we may read in Galen his 10. B. of the Composition of Medicaments according to the place and Aetius Tetrab 3. Serm. 4. Ch. 2. and others And as touching Mustard Seed Alexand. Tralleanus writeth That he knew a certain person who by the use only of the said Mustard seed mingled with dried Figs in extraordinary great pains arising from a cold Humor was freed from the said pain of the Gout Some commend the wild Radish throughly bruised and I my self have seen that it hath done good to many If we fear its Acrimony and that from thence some heat may be excited we may then first boyl it a little The Liquor of Snails is likewise very much extolled by some as Take Snails taken forth of their Shels in number twenty five the berries of Danewort or Dwarf-Elder and Salt of each as much as will suffice These being put into the Alembick in a clean Vessel with holes through the bottom thereof let there be a Vessel put under it that may receive the Liquor as it distilleth in the which you are to wet cloaths and apply them unto the part affected This Suffumigation is likewise much commended Take Lign Aloes yellow Amber Frankincense Gum Juniper Henbane seed Styrax Calamite Gum Tacamabaca of each one dram Pouder them grossly and cast the pouder upon live coals of fire and so for half an hour let the part affected receive the smoak hereof Quercetan in the seventh Chapter of his Pharmacop restit hath four Waters al good against the Gout The first is this Take Water of the Sperm of Frogs of white Mullein and Sallow of each a quart and half a pint the Vrine of a Boy that drinketh Wine three pints Treacle new and fresh two drams and half Vitriol Salt dissolved and Allum of each four ounces Let them be distilled till they be dry upon the Embers then add Salt of Vitriol one ounce and half Camphire and Saffron of each two drams and mingle them Let Linen cloaths be throughly wet in this Water and applied unto the grieved part and be very often renewed The Second Water is this Take Salt Vrine of a Child of each as much as you think fit and then distil them The third is this Take Leaves and Flowers of green Elder of each one pound let them be well bruised and macerated in a sufficient quantity of Wine for three daies together in Balneo and afterward let them be distilled The fourth Water is this Take Spirit of Wine rectified one quart the purest Honey one pound Let them be distilled in Balneo and let two Liquors be gathered from hence severally and apart to wit One watery and the other Sulphureous Add unto the remainders of whol Saffron one ounce and half Venice Turpentine two ounces Tartar calcined to a whiteness half a pound Salt one ounce the flegm of Vitriol four ounces Lye made of the tender shoots of the Vine two pints Let them be macerated for twenty four hours and then distilled till they be dry Vnto the feces that remain add the first Water and let them be distilled And at length mingle together all the Liquors and distil them in a Balneum where they may evaporate Andreas Libavius in the first part of his Apocalyps Hermet Cap. 8. preferreth before all others that Water in which Brass and Iron have been extinguished and afterwards Mercurius vitae hath therein been macerated Or Take venice Soap one ounce and half Spirit of Wine Water of Elder Flowers of each two ounces and mingle them Or Take River Crevishes eight in number Juniper grains one handful Myrrh and Frankincense of each one ounce the best Wine one pint let them be distilled Or Take Mastick Frankincense Myrrh Ammoniacum and Bdellium of each two ounces Vitriol one pound Honey a quart Tartar an ounce and half Spirit of Wine the best four pints let them be distilled according to art Solenander in his 24. Consil Sect. 5. writeth That he knew an old man that was much troubled with the Gout who made for himself a Medicine in this manner When there was a swelling and a real pain and the place red he took Salt Cinders the Urine of a Child and Vinegar in these wel mingled together and stirted up and down he throughly moistened a white woollen cloth and then squeezing it he applied it now and then unto the part that was pained And when he had now by this means in great part asswaged the pain and the disease declining he boyled live Sulphur and the pouder of white Hellebore in the Oyl of Linseed and with it he anointed the places affected And the same Solenander writeth also that this following was known to benefit many that made trial thereof There groweth unto the Roots of the Oak in the Autumn for the most part a certain kind of Mushrom that is red and tender and proportionably big enough according to the growth of the Tree which he therefore calleth Hypodrion the same no doubt that we have made mention of above in our 3. B. of Practice Part. 2. Sect. 2. Chap. 7. touching the Dysentery this when he hath cut it into many smal thin slices with Salt finely poudered he puts it into an Earthen pot so sprinkling the aforesaid Salt that every laying of the several pieces may receive some thereof betwixt each other he then puts them deep in the Earth for certain daies and
the Head and Joynts 23. But chiefly the Nature of the Contagion it self from which the sick contracted the disease doth manifest the force and greatness of the disease for this poyson hath somtimes a greater somtimes a less activity and Physitians do relate who have often had such Patients in cure that somtimes of ten strong yong men who have had to do with the same Whore not one of them hath scaped therefore if it be known from what he or she this evil was contracted the Physitian may the easier judg of the event of the disease 24. Other things being alike this evil is easiest cured which is contracted by Whorish Copulation but that is harder to Cure which the Infant hath sucked in with the milk whenas the virulency goes into the stomach with the milk and hence in the Liver there is generated a virulent blood which afterwards runs through the whol body and Pollutes that But the Hereditary evil is hardest of al to Cure and that which is communicated from infected Parents with the Seed and blood 25. As for the parts affected if the Liver only be affected the evil is the easier Cured whenas it hath a strong expulsive faculty and Medicaments can easily penetrate unto it but the Spleen Kidneys Womb and external joynts are not so easily Cured but hardest of all the Brain and the Lungs because they have a weaker expulsive faculty and Medicaments do not easily penetrate thither 26. From al which 'tis easily collected what wil be the event of the Disease for by how much the more and more grievous diseases and Symptomes are joyned with the Veneral disease by so much the more the sick are indangered by how much the fewer and lighter by so much the less and those chiefly die who to their putrid and Malignant Veneral Disease have supervenient those Feavers they call Gallical for the Veneral Virulency whiles it corrupts the Humors and induceth a Malignant quality into them makes the Feaver worse and also debilitates the innate heat whence neither the Feaver nor that Malignant disease can be overcome by Nature 27. Very many also die of a wasting of the body and a hectick Feaver or rather a slow and putrid one for both the Veneral virulency it self and the pains watchings and other symptomes do debilitate the innate heat hurt nutrition whence follows a wasting of the whol body to which is joyned a slow putrid Feaver raised from the evil Humors 28. Sanguification also being hurt some die of a Dropsie 29. Many also die by reason of Catarrhes falling down on the jaws and Lungs hindering and taking away their breath or the Vessels of the Lungs being eaten by a sharp Catarrhe and first of al spitting of blood being raised then a Phthisick they die 30. Somtimes the Vessels being eaten in two by the acrimony of the Humors and Vomiting of blood caused the sick die by too great a Flux to the stool or by the Womb. CHAP. VIII Of Prevention WHenas 't is safer to prevent a Disease than to cure it Prevention some Physitians endeavor to teach by what means one may keep himself clear though he have had to do with an infected Woman Of which business Fallopius treats in the whol Chapter 89. de Morb. Galli and he writes that he should seem to have done nothing unless he teach how one seeing a handsome Woman and lying with her though she be infected may be preserved from the French Disease and he cals the immortal God to witness that he hath made tryal of it in ten thousand men and none of them was infected and he propounds there two medicaments by which the Contagion received may presently be drawn forth dissipated or dryed up Hercules Saxonia propounds the same de lue Vener cap. 16. and does very much commend them and as Aurelius Minadous speaks of this business many confide that being guarded with those Medicines as with a buckler they may enter the most infected whores and freely ramble al the world over Eustachius Rudius also proposes the like Medicaments Lib. 5. de morb occult cap. 13. But indeed I do not beleeve that those things can be taught with a good conscience by which so many men are encouraged to lust whom perhaps the fear of this Disease might have frighted from it and therefore we wil say nothing of these Medicines but Aurelius Minadous thinks they themselves are deceived that teach such things Cap. 31. de Virulentia Venerea Where he overthrows Fallopius foundation who thinks that this Disease is only communicated by the least purulent bodies which if they be wiped away extracted dissipated this Disease may be turned off and he teacheth that the Contagion doth not only enter by the external parts of the Privities but also chiefly by the internal and runs through the Body and that the infected Vapors and spirits do pass through the internal porosities and are admitted by the Veins and therefore no man can promise himself health and safety from washing which only reaches to the external parts nor from other Medicaments outwardly applied neither can such external Medicaments take away the Pollution conceived within The safect way therefore to avoid this Disease is to abstain from whores and to remember that Whoremongers and Adulterers the Lord wil judg who yet is wont also to punish them in this Life with that most filthy Disease Yet Jul. Galmarius hath another way of prevention of this Disease to wit by internal Medicaments and he writes that he hath found out an antidote or a Mullet by the use of which mens bodies are rendered safe against this Disease yet he entreats and conjures al Physitians and Chyrurgeons that they do not communicate and make known that Medicine in obedience to lustful people and that they make not themselves fosterers of lusts but to them only who must necessarily converse with those that are suspected or defiled But he describes that Antidote Lib. 1. cap. 8. and this is it Take of the Amulet for the Pox and of old Mithridate by Galens description of each six drams Conserve of the flowers of Bugloss of broom of Rosemany of each three drams mix them give one dram or a dram and an half or two drams at the most in the morning two hours before meat eight or ten daies together But if any one suspect himself to be infected he admonisheth that he earnestly use a greater care for prevention therefore let him take of the Alexipharmacal Medicine even now described swallowing a dram or a dram and an half in the morning and before supper for eight or ten daies together whose Verture that it may reach the easier to the more remote parts when they have swallowed it 't is expedient they drink presently after it somwhat of this Julep by which as its vehicle it may be carried into every part Take of the water of blessed thistle burnet Devils-bit of each two ounces of Syrup of the juyce of Sorrel of Lemmons
addition of such Herbs doth cause that the Decoction wil not last so long to prevent this such herbs are to be added not to the whol decoction but to about one pound of it Some not unprofitably especially to those accustomed to it and whose stomach is weak do add towards the end of the decoction three pound of a sweetish white wine some prepare the whol decoction in wine but not so rightly for the best part of the wine doth evaporate in boyling and there is left an ingrateful Flegm as was said before Aurelius Minadous also doth admonish that the decoction of the wood is to be given with a vehicle which may direct the vertue of the Medicine to the parts principally affected and the Head most of al affected we must mix Cephalick things the Reins affected things Nephtitical the Liver Hepatical the Spleen things Splenitick Which as we do not wholly disallow of so we do not alwaies think it necessary whenas the vertue of the decoction doth easily of it self penetrate into the whol body but we must chiefly have a care least by the admistion of such Medicines the decoction be rendered nauseous and ingrateful to the Patient which when he himself also considers he admonisheth rightly that such Medicines are more commodiously taken by themselves reduced into a pouder or Bolus or some other forme than mixt with the decoction but we shal speak hereafter of compound decoctions The Chymists whenas they fear least by the long boyling Distilled water from Guajaum which is to the half or a third part the Spirituous and subtile parts should exhale and be dissipated and so the vertue of the Medicine be diminished prepare this decoction another way so that it loseth nothing of its strength they take the pouder of Guajacum and put it into a retort and pouring a sufficient quantity of water they place the retort in the ashes and apply the receiving vessel and making a fire under it first they make a digestion then distil it to the Consumption of one half of the water they give of the distilled water four ounces yet it were most commodious if the distilled water were mixed with the rest of the decoction in the retort being strained for so they would have al the vertue to that decoction remaining in the retort may be poured more water and let it digest twelve hours afterwards distil it and the liquor distilled may be given for common drink and whenas it happens somtimes that Infants are born infected with the Veneral disease or are infected by their Nurses this distilled and sweetned with Sugar may be given them instead of Juleps Also after that the first decoction prepared the common way The second decoction is strained twelve or eighteen pound of water again is poured to the wood remaining after the first boyling according as the Patient is wont to drink more or less and is boyled to the Consumption of the third part and being strained is given for ordinary drink at dinner and supper if they desire a more pleasant and sweeter drink you may add four ounces or more of Raysons or instead of Raysons one ounce or two of Coriander seed prepared and sweeten the decoction with two or three ounces of Sugar But if any Herbs have been added to the first decoction the decoction for drink at meals must not be made of the remainders of the first decoction because it would be nauseous but you must prepare another fresh decoction but more dilute or a wine of Guajacum which is made thus Wine of Guajacum Take four or five pound of the wood four pound of white Sugar ten pound of white Wine and put the wood into a wooden Vessel and heat the Wine and powr it to it Some boyl the wood the third time and use the decoction to boyl meat in The third decoction the same decoction also may be used to wash the hands to clense the Nostrils and mundisie Ulcers And some give this wood other waies some in the form of a pouder An Electuary of Guajacum others make electuaries of it Thus Nicol. Massa Lib. 2. de Morb. Gal. Cap. 6. he takes of the Indian wood most finely prepared one pound and with Syrup of Fumitory boyles it to the form of an Electuary of which he gives half an ounce or an ounce or take of the wood of Guajacum Sarlaparilla finely poudered of each one ounce of the species of the three saunders and Diarrhodon Abbatis of each two drams Conserve of Succory Roses of each six ounces with Syrup of Succory make an Electuary Others with a convenient Syrup make pills of it But others not without cause do here admonish us that such Medicines are less effectual and that many who were newly infected when as they hoped for health by the use of such Medicaments by that delay and lingring and weakness of the Medicine have fallen into a most grievous evil for as was said such Medicines do less penetrate into the body Yet towards the latter end of the Cure when the evil is almost overcome and 't is only feared that there may remain some evil disposition and the long continued drinking of the decoction of the wood is nauseous to the patient such Medicines may be used to consume the reliques of the disease An extract of this wood is more commodiously prepared and out of that pills An extract of Guajacum or rowles but after the use of it there is need of taking some liquor by whose vehicle the extract may be distributed and carried into the whol body nay these extracts according to the opinion of Hercules Saxonia have scarce so great strength as to overcome this disease if it be very great and ancient but the decoction is deservedly preferred before them Hercules Saxonia de lue Vener cap. 27. writes that the oyl is stronger The oyl of Guajacnm and he thinks the whol Alexipharmacal power of the wood is placed in this Oyl and he relates that he hath proved by experience that by the benefit of this oyl the greatest and ancientest disease hath been overcome But he gives it divers waies in wasted bodies with milk in others of a hotter temperament with Conserve of Roses or whey of Goats in Melancholly with conserve of Burrage or Bugloss in Flegmatick with Conserve of Betony in those that have knobs with Turpentine and two scruples for a dose But doubtless it was not oyl which Saxonia gave but a liquid extract or Tincture as they cal it For no oyl is distilled from this wood by an Alembick but that which is distilled by a retort or descent by an open fire is found to be such that it cannot conveniently be given into the body nay scarce with safety I attribute more to the spirit of Guajacum The spirit of Guajacum the preparation of which is not every bodies work for it requires a longer and more diligent digestion and fermentation for
the preparing of it There are some also who think the leaves and fruit of this tree being reduced into Conserves and Electuaries are to be used and they relate that the Indians infected with this disease do use them as Medicines but though the leaves and fruit may do somwhat in a light disease yet they are not sufficient in that which is great and inveterate neither are they able to perform what the wood doth But 't is observed that the fruit of this Tree hath also a power vehemently to loosen the Belly and whenas a fresh and light disease is somtimes cured only with purges 't is no wonder that the Indians may be cured by these purging fruits especial since that al Alexipharmacal vertue against this disease cannot be denyed them CHAP. XIV Of Sarsaparilla NExt to Guajacum Sarsaparilla that Root challengeth the first place in curing the Veneral disease which some call Spartam Parillam some Salsam Parillam the Spaniards Sarsam Parillam by reason of the similitude which it hath with the plant called rough bindweed By reason of its thornes 't is cailed Sarsa for Sarsa in Spanish signifies Bryers or Brambles but by reason of its leaves and boughs Parilla that is to say the thorny vine Nay Fallopius de Morb. Galli Cap. 63. is of that opinion that it is truly the rough bindweed which grows every where in Italy and he writes that by the use of it he hath with happy success freed many from the French Pox. Dioscorides also Lib. 4. Cap. 139. writes thus of the rough bindweed its leaves and fruit being drank before and after are antidotes against deadly poysons and besides 't is delivered that if somwhat of them poudered be given to a new born infant to drink no poyson shal afterwards hurt it But grant it be so that the Italian rough bindweed can do somwhat against this disease as also against other poysons yet he himself grants that there is no light difference betwixt this and the Indian But Sarsaparilla grows in Peru The native place of sarsaparilla in the hedges as rough bindweed the white and black Bryony and hops do in Europe The Root creeps far up and down by the Earth that 't is oftentimes above six cubits long which gathered into bundles is brought over to us The good and fresh is white solid but that which is reddish and poudery when 't is broke is less effectual It s vertue as I have said is very great also in curing this disease The vertue of it and 't is found by experience that many have been cured by the use of it without Guajacum and because 't is more Temperate and moderatly hot and without any acrimony bitterness or astriction or smel but hath a certain obscure sweetness it may safely be given to al constitutions of body and al Ages besides 't is of thin parts provokes sweat dries eminently resists putrefaction wasts superfluous humidity somwaht loosneth the body and therefore is wont in some sort to weaken the stomach but though Guajacum be more powerful and efficacious yet Sarsa in this exceeds that wood that it hath an eminent power to allay the French pains though never so accute and stubborn by reason of its exceeding tenuity penetrating and laxative vertue and Jul. Palmarius writes that no pain can happen so contumacious and so continual which at length it doth not lay asleep and overcome if any one use the decoction of it for a long time and constantly Nay al knotty French Tumors so they be not bony in what part soever they are are Rooted out by the use of it their matter being melted and cast forth by sweats or at the least wasted and emptyed by insensible perspiration and Fallopius writes in the alleaged place that if after the disease is overcome there remain Ulcers Clefts about the ARsehole that Sarsaparilla will heal them sooner by half than the Indian wood and in a short time also the most hard knobs are discussed by it Yet some admonish here that by Guajacum indeed this disease may be perfectly cured and that al things are found in Guajacum which are necessary for the cure of this disease but that sarsa doth not alone but mixt with Guajacum China Root and Sassafras wood cure this disease and for this reason because it loosness the stomach heats less is void of al acrimony and therefore is not so abstersive and being inodorous hath not the power to refresh the spirits But these accusations fetcht from the manifest qualities seem not to be sufficient truly that Guajacum doth challenge the first place in this disease is not to be denied in the interim it hath been observed also by many that somtimes this disease hath been cured by the use of this Root only and if perhaps it do to much lax the stomach that may easily be prevented But this also is given divers waies The manner of giving it for the most part as Guajacum in the decoction concerning which we must note they that wil not spare for cost and desire the decoction should be more effectual they ought to take only the bark as which is the more effectual part of the Root and to cast away the inner piths as that which is less effectual nay as 't is delivered by some 't is more cold and hath a certain astrictive faculty But the Root of Sarsaparilla is taken being sliced thin and to one ounce of it is poured two pound of water The decoction or to two ounces and an half of the Root four pound of Water some pour to four ounces of the Root feven pound of Water others to three ounces ten pound of water Neither can the quantity of the water to the Root be so strictly prescribed but it may be varied according to the Nature of the disease and the condition of the sick and the season of the year For in an inveterate disease there is need of a stronger decoction in a new of a weaker But it is steeped first of al fifteen hours or twenty and afterwards boyled to the Consumption of one half and reasons liquorish and other things are added to the decoction as need requires as in the decoction of Guajacum and because the decoction of Sarsa doth somwhat lax the stomach for the most part mint Betony or somwhat else that strengthens the stomach is to be added or what seems more commodious Guajacum or least the mixture of divers things may breed nauseousness after the taking of the decoction of Sarsaparilla they must take somwhat that strengthens the stomach After the first decoction is prepared The second decoction fifteen pound of water are poured again to the remainders and are boyled til a third is wasted and the decoction is used at dinner and Supper some also add towards the end of the decoction three pound of Wine yet this must be done then only as Fallopius thinks either when the sick body goes
abroad to preserve his strength or when the stomach is weak Yet there may also be prepared out of this Root pouders Electuaries extracts as are from Guajacum CHAP. XV. Of China Root THe Portugal Merchants brought over in the former Age China root from the Country of China a certain Root for the cure of this disease which they called China Root for when as the Venereal disease had invaded that Country also as the Americans shewed the use of Guajacum for the destroying of this disease so the people of China used this Root to cure the same disease and taught others the use of it But the Root is a handbreadth long somtimes pretty thick somtimes thinner knobbed somwhat reddish pretty weighty which being newly digged up they report is so tender that it may be eaten raw and boyled as turnep and rape Roots are with us the which seems not to be very credible whenas our Turneps Rape Roors dryed never attain to so great a hardness they are brought to us divided As concerning its vertues 't is neither strong in smel nor tast and therefore there is no excess of it in heat and cold but 't is rather temperate or if there be any excess in it 't is rather in cold yet 't is dry in the second of thin substance yet with a certain astrictive power and a kind of substantifical moisture so that by the use of it men do grow Fat Whence also the decoction of it doth easily sowr When it was first brought over by the Portugals into France and the neighbouring provinces it was wonderfully cryed up by the Merchants as being of thin parts and having power to digest to more urine and sweat to consum Excrements of al sorts to clense the Bowels free from obstructions clear the blood from corruption to cake away pains in the Joynts to be good for the Venereal disease and because 't is temperate it may safely be given to any age sex any time of the year and to those that are feaverish al which faculties whenas they are not in Guajacum by some of that time it was made use of not only for the cure of other diseases but also for the cure of the pox it was preferred before Guajacum Which very thing caused that Charles the fifth Emperour being sick of a most grievous Gout was the first almost that would make tryal of the use of this Root upon the advice of some Physitians But experience afterwards lessened that same and Jul. Palmarius writes of this business de lue Vener Cap. 14. that many to their great detriment have preferred this root before Guajacum and that he hath found by experience that also in a very strict diet it hath been uneffectual against this disease oftentimes also the stomach is seen to become so moist with the use of its decoction and the Native heat opprest that a great Lientery and crudity hath often followed in those who had but weak Fuell for their implanted heat Besides these discommodities and faults he writes also that it doth oftentimes cause swelling of the Spleen and hardness in those that use it long neither doth he grant it to have extraordinary vertue against this disease either by its whol substance or occult quality when as after the use of it they who thought themselves wel do dayly fal into a relapse of the same Disease The same also is confirmed by Gabriel Fallopius Lib. de Morb. Galli Cap. 60. who writes that he hath used this Root again and again for the Cure of this Disease but could do nothing with it in the interim he writes that he hath used it with happy success for the dropsie to moderate the mobility of the Humors in hot bleared Eyes and in a hot distemper of the stomach and Liver And other Physitians also agree in this that this Root for the Cure of the French Pox is far in feriour to Guajacum and Sarsaparilla although it be profitable to preserve and strengthen the heat of our body and therefore for other diseases And if by chance any one who could not be cured neither by the decoction of Guajacum nor by the unction of Quick-silver hath recovered health by the Decoction of China Jul. Palmarius thinks this is the Cause of it because Nature rejoycing in the Variety of Remedies and weary of the stronger at length is easied by those that are less effectual Yet Garzias ab Horto relates of the Root being fresh that it doth so exceedingly heat that if any one use the pure Decoction of it or drink it hot by reason of the too great heat of the Medicine he wil fal into exceeding heats of the liver Erysipilaes and Phlegmons and other most grievous Symptoms But when as 't is brought over to us insipid and somtimes dusty there is no cause to fear any such thing Neither doth this only happen in this plant but also in many others that the Alimental juyce hath far other vertues then the dryed Plants and therefore though perhaps this Root being fresh in China may have great vertue to Cure the Venereal Disease yet it is not necessary that it retain the same with us But divers prepare the decoction of this root diversly The decoction of China Jul. Palmarius writes that the common way of preparing it is this that to two ounces of the root cut into rounds and put in an earthen pot there is poured four pound of water and let them steep twelve houres afterwards boyl with a gentle fire to the consumption of the one half Fallopius boyles two ounces of the root in twelve pound of water to the consumption of half but according to the nature of the disease the proportion of the root and water may be varied and the root may be boylled from one to three in twelve pound of water Yet Septalius adviseth us here that this decoction is most commodiously prepared if one ounce of the root fresh and not rotten be boyled in ten pound of water two ounces in twelve pound of water For he writes though many physitians to save charges whenas many cannot take al that decoction in one day and they feare if they should keep it another day it would grow sowre do boyl half the portion of China in half the quantity of water and boyl away the half or two thirds thinking that so they have both saved their purse and prepared the decoction as strong yet they are very much deceived and if they have not lost their taste they shal easily know that that first decoction is much more powerful than the second and the reason is ready because 't is not enough to give a proportion of the root to the water but the time of boyling is cheifly to be considered and the action of the heat of the fire and the reaction of the water For whenas foure houres space imagine ought to be allowed to extract the vertue out of a most hard root and communicate it to
the water how much time wil be spent in boyling away six or eight pints of water if taking but the half quantity viz. half an ounce of China with six pints of water we suffer the half to wast or two thirds which wil be consumed in less than two houres space the water being less able to resist the action of the fire nor let any one dare to say that we may prevent this inconveniency by making a less quantity of fire and if it he boyled by a slower fire for to extract this vertue out of a more solid substance there ought also to concur a due quantity of fire Out of the remainders another drink is prepared by some for dinner and supper The Second decoction as out of Guajacum Yet Palmarius thinks that al the vertue of that root is transfused in the liquor at the first boyling and therefore for ordinary drink he boyles three ounces more of the root in eight pound of water til two pints are consumed and he ads raisons and liquarish nay some also drink the first decoction at dinner and supper whenas it is not unpleasant to the tast Some also do admonish us that we provide no more of the decoction at once than may be spent in one day whenas it quickly growes sour when 't is cold therefore they command also that it be kept on warm ashes but experience hath taught us that it wil last four dayes Yet because it growes sour that very thing tels us that this root hath in it somewhat spirituous and alimental which is the cause of fermentation and hence of acidity Consult concerning this with Amatus Lusitamus centur 1. curat 98. and especially centur 2. curat 31. CHAP. XVI Of Sassafras wood THey use also for the cure of the Veneral disease that wood which is connonly called sassafras which is imported form the Island called Florida Sassafras-Wood it is of an aromatical taste like fennel 't is hot and dry in the second degree of a thin substance and endewed with an opening discussive and attenuating faculty Its vertues and therefore is commended by them who have sailed to the Indies against long tertian feavers evil habit of the body and dropsie and to strengthen the stomach and against nephritical paines it is comended also for the gout to move the courses and many other diseases to treat of which is not proper to this place 't is used also for the cure of the French pox yet most physitians agree that 't is less effectual than Guajacum and sarsaparilla and the decoction of it is prepared almost as that of Sarsaparilla Chap. XVII Of Sope-wort Last of al sopewort is commended by some physitians for the cure of this disease which is bitter Soapwors accid and endewed with an abstersive and opening faculty and is praised for the French pox and contumacious paines which cannot be over come by other remedies 'T is reported to be the invention of Zapata a spannish Empirick t is used both in the decoction and in substance the decoction is prepared after this manner Take of green sopewort two handfuls It s decoction infuse them al night in eight pound of water than boyl it â—â—l the sâ—pewort is boyled enough then strain one pound of it with half a pound of water and the harbs now boyled and squeez them and reserve it for a mornings dâ—aught to provoke sweat taking seven or eight ounces But that which remains sweeten with raisons or sugar for drink at meales in summer and Cholerick bodies you may add one handful of Sowthistle or basterd Navel-wort But t is a remedy unpleasing to the tast Eustachius Rudius takes of soap-wort six pugils or more and infuseth it in twelve pound of water and boyles it to the consumption of half But as Septallius hath observed t is too great a quantity of water to so sinal a portion of soap-wort But the Root Cheifly is used in substance The pouder and Rudius doth very much commend it in ancient french pains and out of it he prepares this pouder Take of ground pine two ounces of white dittander one ounce and half of Zedoary six drams of the root of soapwort three drams of pearl prepared half a dram Make a pouder for 9. doses but who can take for one dose almost four drams of pouder and the other medicines do far exceed the soapwort which notwithstanding ought to be the basis CHAP. XVIII Of Compound Alexipharmaca BUt though al the medicines hitherto reckoned up Compouond Alexiphbrmaca in the Veneral disease are good to destroy this disease yet some are more effectual then others and besides some have other qualities for the which they are useful sometimes for this sometimes for that end as was said of the simples and therefore seldom one of these medicines is used but for the most part many of them together Indeed if the disease be simple and none of the bowels be affected nor there is no eminent distemper in any part which may hinder the use of Guajacum that wood is the most excellent of al because it resists this disease both by its occult and manifest qualities but if any disease be joyned with it t is oftentimes most profitable to add sarsaparilla and China and there are added by some manny altering medicines of which whenas we spake before in this place we shal ad nothing of them but this that we must have a care least by the mixture of Succories and endives and cooling medicines which are added to moderate the heat of Guajacum which yet is not so much to be feared they hinder sweating which is only to be desired and which brings more benefit then a little heating can do dammage next of al least by the admixtion of other things the drink be made ungrateful and nauseous therefore passing by these that we may speake somewhat of the mixture of alexipharmaca if the nature of the patient be very hot and dry and the humors violently fal from the head on the lungs breast or other parts Guajacum wood is not commodiously given alone whenas it doth farther heat and dry the parts and by its heat make the humors run and move but then sarsaparilla is safer and China more comodious which doth at once moderate the heat and hath an astrictive power by which it stops defluxions on the contrary if the strength be feeble and there be a weaknes of the sight sarsa is not commodious whenas it loosenss the stomach and duls the fight if there be a great consumption if so be it hath not its original from the Venereal disease for then this disease being taken away as the cause that wasting also ceaseth and the body begins to be nourisht better Guajacum and sarsaparilla are not safe But then china is far more profitable as that which moistens substantifically as they speak Yet Ludiciptalius commends Sasaparilla above al the rest against a consumption lib. 7.
animadv num 214. as shal be said also hereafter in the last chapter So if cruel paines molest the patient or gummous tumors or exceeding ulcers be joyned with them Sasaparilla is most profitable which doth discusse the french knobs and easier appease the pains then Guajacum Thus according to the constitution of the Patients and the Nature of the Diseases joyned with it 't is good somtimes to use Guajacum alone somtimes Sarsaparilla somtimes China Root and somtimes to mix al of them in a greater or lesser quantity and somtimes the bark of Guajacum is added somtimes three or four ounces weight to one pound of the wood and they are boyled in fifteen pound of water For examples sake Take Of the wood of Guajacum half a pound of the bark of the same of sarsaparilla each three ounces of China root one ounce and half Infuse them twenty four houres in twelve pound of water afterwards let them be boyled to the consumption of half for a sweating drink Poure on the remainder twelve pound of water let them stand and infuse eight houres afterwards boyl them to a consumption of a third part for drink at meales Or. Take of the Wood of Guajacum one pound the bark of the same Sarsaparilla of each thre ounces Boyl them in sixteen pound of water to the consumption of half Or. Take of the wood of Guajacum China root each one ounce an half Sarsaparilla one ounce infuse them twenty four hours in six poundof water afterwards boyl half away Poure on the residue ten pound of water boyl it to the consumption of three pound Strainit and give it for drink at meales Or Take of wood of Guajacum eight ounces of the bark of the same four ounces sarsaparilla sassafras wood each two ounces Boyl them in twelve pound of water to the consumption of two thirds that there remains four pound towards the end ad four pound of wine Poure to the remainder sixteen pound of water boyl it to theconsumption of half towards the end ad four pound of wine make a drink for meales In this place we must not omit a question concerning the use of purgers Whether purgers ought to be mixt with the decoction whiles the decoction is drank to wit whether they ought to be mixt with the decoction or to be used at the same time with the decoction For some do wholy reject them and hold that purgers are neither to be mixed with the decoction nor to be used apart for this reason because the bodies are wont diligently to be purged before they come to the use of these decoctions next of al because purgers and sweaters do cause contrary motions Others on the contrary do mix purgers with these decoctions that by benefit of them the blood may be purefied and the belly constantly kept loose others do not mix purgers with these decoctions but purge at certain intervals every eighth or tenth day or at a longer distance as need requires which last opinion seemes to me to be trewest For though the body be purged before the use of these decoctions yet some may easily remain and ever and anon be collected and sweating doth purge onely the thinner humors but leaves the thick neither after this manner are there caused contrary motions for that day that purging is ordered sweaters are not administred but if purgers were mixed with the sweaters then there would be contrary motions And besides by the admistion of purgers the decoction being to be used so many weeks it would become nauseous and ingratful Hercules Saxonia also holds de lue Vener Cap. 38. Whether purgers may serve instead of sweaters That purging may be ordered every day to wit in those in whom sweat cannot or ought not to be caused he thinks sweat cannot be provoked in them who either are of such a hard and thick Skin that they can by no means sweat or in those who fal into fainting and swouning fits as soon as sweaters are administred but he thinks they ought not to sweat in whom the Veneral disease possesseth not the Joynts nor the Skin nor the superficies of the body but hath rather taken up its seat about the bowels but this opinion seems not to me to be agreeable to truth for whereas he thinks that some ought to have purgers administred because they cannot sweat by reason of the thickness of their Skin or because they presently fal into swouning fits is agreeable neither to reason nor experience for scarce any one hath so thick a Skin that the pores wil no way open for sweat and though on the first daies sweat doth not prelently follow yet after that the Humors are attenuated by the use of the decoctions the passages and pores are opened then sweat succeeds especially if those Laconick Baths be applied as shal be said hereafter And the Patient may so moderate his sweating that he need not fal into fainting or swouning fits and they that cannot endure sweating wil not easily endure purging Last of al purgers cannot performe the same as those sweaters do But that in some bodies sweaters are not to be administred is salf for though the disease may have its principal seat about the Liver and bowels yet it cannot be but also vitious Humors do abound in the whol body whenas the Liver infected with this disease doth generate virulent blood and distribute it to the whol Body Chap. XIX Of the manner of using these Medicines AS concerning the manner of using these Medicaments The manner of using these Medicines The dose of the decoction first of al the decoction of Guajacum is administred for the most part in the morning and afternoon two hours before Supper In the morning 't is given from five ounces to eight or nine ounces before the evening from three ounces to six ounces the pouder is given to two drams the extract to two scruples Yet somtimes the evening drauft is omitted especially at the begining before the patient is accustomed to the Decoction For what was said above of moderating the quality of the decoction that also is to be observed concerning the quantity of the Decoction to be given that the sick be not offended and overcharged which too much of it which unless it be observed it happens somtimes that the sick fal into Feavers contract Crudities and there is caused a loosness ill habit of body and a Dropsie After the same manner we must give the Decoction of Sarsapatilla China Root and the compound decoctions For though some do prescribe here divers doses yet he shal not erre that shal administer them in the aforesaid manner And indeed after the mornings drauft Sweat we must endeavor that the Patient sweat for expetience teacheth that they that sweat not upon the taking of these Medicaments are â—carce clearly freed from this Disease but that sweat may flow the easier let the Patient sleep one hour after he hath taken the Medicine for so
Cloves Pepper Saffron of each four scruples of Cinamone Myrrh Castor Styrax Calamite of each three drams of good Honey as much as is Sufficient make an Opiate Jul. Palmarius Fernelius his Scholer followed him who as was said before in Lib. 1. de lue Vener Cap. 7. writes that Fernelius was most averse from the use of Quick-silver and first dared to promise the Cure of this Disease without the help of that and did take care for the compounding of many Alexiphatmaca at his House which he administred against the Mischeif of this Disease with Guajacum and also without it two of the which which he found to be most excellent and efficatious he describes the first was discribed even now the other is this Take of Divils-bit Scabious Burnet flowers of Marigold Mullein Plantane Balme Rue Broom Origanum Rosemary flowers Red Roses of each three drams of the Seeds of Citron Sorrel Fennel blessed Thistle of the Roots of Dittander Gilliflowers Tormentil round Birthwort Gentian Zedoary Roman Woolfesbane of each two drams Hartshorn shavings of Ivory Wood of Aloes Yellow Saunders Choice Cinamome of each half an ounce Saffron Cloves Nutmeg of each two drams And he relates that he called the first composition the greatet Opiate the other the less and that he gave for a dose half a dram of either with the like quantity of conserve of Bugloss and half a scruple of Mithridate and somtime without Mithridate but that he after Fernelius departed this life out of them both did compleat one adding also certain other Medicines which he found to be prevalent against poysons and most fit to provoke sweat the description of which is this Take of water germander half an ounce of divels-bit scabious burnet Palmarius his antidote Poley Mount peneroyal calamint white sweet smelling Horehound origanum mint St. Johns-wort centory the less French Lavender Germander Ground Pine Plantane Balme rue Time Elder each two drams of Hyssop the lesser Sage Oake Ferne vervin both speedwels each two drams Flowers of Betony Marigould Mullen Broome Rosemary Jasmin Sage Red Roses St. Johns wort Bugloss Burrage Violets Water Lilies of each three drams Seeds of Anis both Parsleys wild Carot Scarlet Graines St Johns Wort Libistick Rue Lovage Basil Berries of Bay Juniper seeds of both Pionies Hartwort of each on dram and half Seeds of citron Sorel Blessed Thistle Fennel of each three drams of the roots of male Piony Round Birthwort Gentian Sweet cane Flowerdeluce of Florence Sweet Cyprus each one dram of Angelico Dittander Gilliflowers tormentil Zedoary Romane Woolfesbane of each three drams and an half of choice perle three drams and hal of Harts horn Shavings of Ivory each one ounce wood of aloes yellow saunders bone of the heart of a hart both currals each half an ounce choice cinamon one dram and half Balsome wood if it may be had one ounce of al pretious stones each half a dram of Nutmeg mace loves myrrh styrax Calamite Benjamin Saffron Castor each half a dram juice of liquorish one ounce oyl of the seeds of Fennel Anise of Sage mint juniper Nutmeg Cloves red opobalsamum brought out of America if it be to be had of each one dram Let al the the herbs flowers and rootes be gathered at that time they are of greatest strength let them be dryed and kept in paper cases then al of them being reduced into a most fine pouder let them be mixt with wine and honey and be boyled into an electuary til it comes to the thickness of wel prepared mithridate yet the flowers may be candied and kept with sugar that they may be mixt with the other things towards the end of their boyling to one pound of honey mix two ounces of the pouder Let it be kept in a most large earthen vessel whose third part may be empty least it swel up and grow hot neither let it come to that use we shal by and by speake of before it be three years old He ads there also a cordial water and an alexipharmacal pouder their discriptions are these the Cordial water Take Of the leaves of sage mint marioram rue hysop origanum Galmarius his Cordiol water the tops of betony each one handful Bruise them al and put them in a great earthen vessel in a warm place and cover them with the water of blessed thistle that they be under it every day stir them with a stick and before they soure which wil he the fourth or fifth day after Strein out the liquor and keep it casting away the Faeces Again Take of plantane leaves marigold balme mullein St. Johnswort centory the less burnet each two handfuls After they have beensteeped four dayes and streined cast them away and take again of water germander Bivels-bit fennel parsly bugloss burage angelico of each one handful Which also being steeped so many dayes streined and then cast away Take of the roots of angelico dittander tormentil betony Zedoary each half an ounce of galangal three drams Nutmegs Cloves each one dram seeds of Fenel Citron Sorrel Blessed thistle Juniper berries each two drams Shavings of Ivory harts horn wood of aloes Yellow Saunders cinamon each one dram Safforn half a dram make a pouder of it and mixe it with the Liquor streined then weigh out of the amulet against this disease and of choice mithridate each one pound and half of old treacle foure drams and being mixt with the said liquor and pouder and put up in a glass alembick or an earthen one glazed expose them six or eight dayes to the heat of June til they grow hot and be perfectly fermented and at length distil them in a double vessel with a most gentle fire If the same simples be put into a new pot with the water of bastard saffron and be heated fifteen dayes in warm horse-dung there wil be extracted a more excellent Water Take of the aforesaid water three ounces Syrup of Lemmons and Violets of each six drams Make a dose A Description of the Pouder Take of the shavings of Ivory Palmarius his Alexipharmacal Pouder the younger Harts-horn Choice Pearles of each half a dram wood of Aloes Yellow Saunders the bone of the heart of a Hart of each one scruple Seeds of Fennel Coriander prepared of each one dram the Leaves of Mint Plantane Vervin Burnet of each two scruples the Roots of Tormentil Betony Zedoary of each half a dram the dryed flowers of Betony Marigold Broom of each half a dram Sugar of Roses three times as much Make a fine Pouder The dose is one spoonful beforemeat and before a drauft of the sweating drink if the Patient refuse the use of the Opiate And in cap. 13. Lib. de lue Vener where he disputes whether this Disease may be perfectly cured by the use of Guajacum alone or whether there be need of the assistance of other Medicines joyned with it at last he concludes with a distinction that the vertue of Guajacum is neither so great that that
alone can wholly Extirpate the Roots and whol malice of the Venereal poyson nor so weak that it can perform nothing without the help of others that by the use of that only the Humors be wasted al Symptomes wil at length be allaied and wholly lie hid but yet the taint of the disease which hath already taken possession of the solid parts cannot in most bodies be wholly overcome and extinguisht by that remedy Rondeletius Rondeletius his Treacle Water doubtless followed these men also who de morb Itali commend his Treacle water which provokes sweat in the inveterate Italian Disease and takes away the pains the description of which is this Take of Treacle one pound of Sorrel three handfuls of the flowers of Chamomel Peny-royal Pomegranates blessed Thistle of each two ounces Mix them al in white wine and distil them Of which water give three ounces to drink with three ounces of Sorrel and Bugloss water when the Patient goes into his bed or hot house Platerus also thinks that it is confirmed by experience that the decoctions of other plants besides Guajacum Sarsaparilla China Sassafras can performe the same in this disease as they do and therefore fals into this opinion but evilly That the late mentioned Medicines which are accounted alexipharmaca of this disease do work rather in the cure of this disease by moving sweat then by an occult quality and therefore he thinks that not only a decoction of box wood Juniper Cedar Cypress and Savin Agallochus Rose-wood but also the decoction and Treacle water which are given in Pestilent Feavers are profitable also here Aurelius Minadous de lue Vener cap. 53. Whether treacle be good in the Venereal disease when he had spoken many things in the praise of Treacle at length concludes that Treacle also may be used against the venereal virulency as a most excellent Alexiterum not as if it were to be numbered amongst them which of themselves are said to expel this virulency but amongst them which expel it by accident in as much as it doth strengthen the spirits by a Conformable proportion to them so that they being now made strong are able as the principal agent together with the Treacle as their instrument to overcome the malignity of the venereal virulency The same Author cap. 44. Trochisks Cypheos commends Trochisks Cypheos in this Disease as being such which do principally strengthen the Liver which in this Disease is chiefly affected and free it from Excrementitious Humors which are collected in this Disease being powerful to concoct cleanse and dry up the Excrement and therefore as Galen thought this Composition was to be preferred before al other Medicines written by Asclepias Andromachus and other most Famous Physitians for the affects of the Liver so he thinks the same is to be used and Magnified beyond al others in this Disease But as I wil not disswade any one from the use of such common Alexipharmaca in the cure of this Disease whenas in other cases it is a custome when any one hath drank poyson or any waies taken it and knows not what it is to give treacle and common Alexipharmaca so I wil counsel no body that he confide only in these Medicines and neglect those proper ones And I see it done by very few Physitians as being taught by experience that this Disease cannot wholly be extirpated without Guajacum Sarsaparilla and the like neither doth it follow that therefore because some sick of an incurable French Pox could not be cured by Guajacum wood that we must place more hope in these Medicaments For they that could not be cured by those proper Alexipharmaca wil much less be cured by these common ones CHAP. XXI Of the Cure by Quick-silver ANd this is the chief kind of Medicine for the cure of the Venereal disease Of the cure by Quick-silver and this is the chief manner of curing it For there is also another way of curing the same Disease by quick-silver which was first brought into use by Chyrurgions and barbers afterwards also was applyed by learned Physitians For whenas as was said before by Fracastorius certain Barbars had found out amongst the Medicines of our ancestors for the filthy scab joyned with the pains of the joynts unguents compounded of Mercury and Sulphur other Medicines profiting little they began to use them The use of which being not altogether unsuccessful afterwards quick-silver was used in the cure of this Disease by many learned Physitians But though it be not my purpose in this place to treat of quick-silver which the Chymists cal Mercury but rather of the use of it in curing this disease yet I shal admonish you of a few things in general Quick-silver is reckoned amongst the mettals and 't is called Silver from its color in which it resembles silver Quicksilver whence so called It s wonderful Nature but quick because t is alwaies moveable and its Nature is altogether wonderful which many learned men admire and which hath tortered the wits of many Chymists and deluded their pains For though it be mortified fixed or what way soever it oftentimes seems to be changed yet it is easily reduced to its former quick Nature And though it be reduced into the smallest bodies and transmitted through leather or be otherwise reduced into atomes and a strong form yet it retaines in them its whol Nature and essence and returns to its former quick body Naturalists and Physitians differ concerning its temperament Whether Quicksilver be hot or cold whiles some hold it to be cold others hot Matthias Vnzerus hath collected the arguments of both in Anatom Spagyr Mercu. to alleage al which at large in this place is not our intent for you may consult with him on that business in the alleaged place yet by and by we shal make mention of some of them but Vnzerus himself cap. 12. goes the middle way and holds Matthias Vnzerus his opinion that some natural things have oftentimes in them diverse and wholly contrary vertues and faculties and some of them are manifest others occult and that these depend on the specifick form those on the first qualities of the Elements which he proves by the examples of Wormwood Rhubarb Vineger and others and he thinks Mercury is to be reckoned in the number of these which may be considered both as crude and as prepared the crude he thinks hath mixt qualities and is partly hot partly cold and that diversity is to be attributed to the divers parts of the matter of which it consists some of which are very thin Subtile pure and Spirituous but some are thick earthy and feculent but he thinks that Mercury prepared hath no longer any cold quality but they are wholly taken away by the outward help of fire or by the Application of the menstrua and therefore that it is very hot Hercules Saxonia Hercules Saxonia holds the same de lue Vener Cap. 39. Whiles he
hath been deadly to some and therefore is not to be made use of unless al other meanes have been tried in vain and only on very strong bodies for this way of cure is very violent whenas the patients that do admit of it every day are wont to voide ten pints of virulent spittle but it takes not place in those that are weak wasted endewed with a hot and dry distemper not in those which are troubled with a difficulty of breathing or are subject to distillations from the head on the breast or who spit blood or are taken with a lientery or dysentery but physitians do cheifly use those suffumigations in a contumacious French ophthalmy and upon an imminent shedding of the haire which cannot be hindred by other medicines for this suffumigation doth fasten the haire Yet then a particular suffumigation may be appointed For we must note here Their difference that there is difference of suffumigations in this disease for some are universal which are received by the whol body and therefore also do empty the whol body others partitular which are applyed only to certain parts again some suffumigations are prepared of benigne medicines as frankincense myrrh oyl Cinamon Styrax calamite spikenard Amber Ammoniacum benjamin wood of aloes Amber greese Musk Gallia moschata and the like which though they may be fitted for the use of certaine parts yet they do not destroy the venereal disease Those therefore which are proper to this disease are chiefly prepared of mercury and of those things made of Mercury cinnabar Mercury precipitate sublimate As concerning those universal ones their basis as was said even now is mercury any way prepared some ad the Greeks Sandarach and yellow arsnick but whenas they are most pernicious poysons they are not safe enough applyed neither do they cure this disease in particular that we may give you some formes Take Of Factitious Cinnabar three ounces Myrrh Frankincense Mastich Formes each one ounce Liver colored aloe Styrax calamite Benjamin each half an ounce make a pouder Or Take of Cinnabar three ounces Myrrh Frankincence wood of aloe Laudanum Ammoniacum each one ounce mix them with turpentine make pills Or Take of Cinnabar three ounces Mercury precipitate three drams Frankincense Aloe Mastick Myrrh Benjamin Styrax Calamite each half an ounce make a pouder Epiphanius Ferdinandus reports the following forme is much in use at Naples in the Hospital for those that are incurable Take of Litharge five ounces of antimony Cinnabar each one ounce of Pontick Rhubarb six ounces Polipody of the oake three ounces Sweet cane Cinamon Laudanum Roses Mace Nutmegs Alum Verdegrece Aloe each three drams Red lead the Greeks Sandarache each one ounce Gumme caranna two drams Water of Roses and Citron Flowers as much as is sufficient mix them according to art But it seemes to me to be a forme made up without al reason which containes many things unprofitable and also hurtful That is safer which Ferdinandus himself proposeth Take of Cinnabar Mercury sublimate each one ounce Gumme of the Olive tree Laudanum each half an ounce Nutmegs Bay and Juniper berries each three drams Marâ—oram Coppras one dram and an half Turpentine as much as is sufficient to incorporate it make a mass But those medicines whether they be reduced into pouders or pills or trochisks The manneâ— of preparing these suffumigations are used after this manner first of al the patient that he may be able to undergoe this cure fit sauce for him and they are deservedly thus handled who defile themselves with lust you must give him two reare eggs a morsel of bred dipt in strong wine and a draught of wine and a spoonful of conserve of roses then let him rest quiet for a quarter of an houre in the interim let that Venereal bed or rather prison viz the sweating place be heated and in that hot house or dry bath prepare a tent or a pavilion of thick linnen cloath under which the patient may sit naked in a low seat under the same pavilion place a pot or vessel ful of burning coales on which by degrees cast either the pouder or the pills or trochisks that the sume from thence may be dispersed through his whol body and be received by the naked body of the patient when the smoak abates strow fresh water on the coals and continue so doing for a third or fourth part of an houre for half or a whol houre as the strength of the patient can indure it For we must carefully observe that the patient faint not which doth often happen if it be collected by his stammering speech he must presently be taken forth and be refresht with fitting medicines But that faintings may be prevented the patient may be permitted to draw the cold ayre by intervals through a reed and put forth his nose without the pavilion But these suffumigations are applied either once or twice a day and indeed for three six or nine or more daies according as the purgation doth sooner or later succeed for when this comes or a loosness we must presently sease from the suffumigation After the patient hath sweat sufficiently under his tent Being wrapt up in linnen he must be laid in his bed that he may there continue his sweat for an houre or two Particular suffumigations But particular suffumigations are not applyed to the whol body but only to parts exulcerated or affected with pain but then Salivation is not moved neither is that the intent but it is used only to take away diseases and symptomes in the external parts viz. for the falling of the haire suffumigatons are applyed to head to the hands and Feet for their paines and when they suffer Chaps and Clefts Last of al also a flux may be raised by taking Quick-silver inwards which though it was not known to Fernelius Internal Medicines causing Salivation yet it hath been taken notice of by the more modern and Quick-silver is used to this end by Rondeletius Platerus and others Such are those Pills called Barbarossa which have Quick-silver in them but Physitians give Pills made of Mercury so that at one dose there is given six or seven grains of Mercury and they give them almost every day and so long til a flux followeth and this cure they continue for thirty daies Yet Platerus admonisheth that this kind of cure is not easily to be admitted and not unless the Disease be inveterate when other Medicines premised availe nothing He also thinks that it is commodious if it be presently cast forth by stool either by its own weight or by the admistion of other things but if that be done doubtless it wil not cause Salivation therefore 't is better that Mercury what way soever prepared be given in a less dose than can cause purging either by vomit or stool viz. that the half or third or fourth part only of that dose be given which otherwise is wont to be given to purge For
guarded with a defensive Oyntment the Ulcer must be washt with the Decoction of Scabious Horehound and especially Soape-wort and Guajacum afterwards let the Ulcer be anointed with some convenient unguent those Oyntments are chiefly profitable which have Mercury in them either a live or sublimate or precipitate or Cinnabar And in Ulcers of the Yard and rottenness of the Nut as they speak Hercules Saxonia writes there is no Medicine yet found out more profitable then precipitate yet it ought not to be applied but where there is a thick filth but in clean Ulcers t is not to be used Eustachius Rudius Lib. 5. de Morb. occult Cap. 19. commends two Oyntments especially The first is Take of Oyl of Roses sweet Almonds of each half an ounce The Mercurial Vnguent Oyntment of Rozin which is made of pure oyl Rozin of the Pine Turpentine and Yellow Wax six drams Mercury Precipitate one dram a little Wax Mix al over the fire except the Mercury precipitate and taking them of the fire stir them carefully til they are cool then add the precipitate yet according to the Nature of of the Vlcer and the part affected with it you may add more or less of the mercury precipitate The other is this Take of Oyl of sweet Almonds Oyntment of Roses of each three ounces new wax one ounce Mercury precipitate half an ounce Mix them And those Oyntments are good not only for the Ulcers of the Yard but for French Ulcers of other parts for the Disease called Ficus swellings in the Fundaments and Crusts The Balsame of Mercury also is good which is thus prepared Take of Quick silver dissolved in spirit of Nitre to one pound of this dissolution pour of Oyl of Olives three ounces Let them stand and digest eight daies afterwards separate the oyl and keep it for your use Or Take the Yelk of one Egg boyled hard Honey one ounce Mix them over a gentle fire let them boyl and add of Mercury Sublimate half a dram After mundification this Oyntment also may be used Take of the best aloe half an ounce Crocus Martis two drams Frankincense red Lead of each one dram Honey half an ounce Turpentine two drams the Yelk of an Egg. Mix them But occult and hidden ulcers are wont to lie hid either bound up under the foreskin Hidden Vlcers or else are in the internal passage of the Yard if the Ulcer be under the fore-skin contracted either a convenient medicine is to be injected by a syringe and afterwards a tent dipt in oyntment is with a probe to be applied to the part affected or the fore-skin must be cut long waies and necessary Medicines be layed to it But if the ulcers be in the very passage of a mans Yard Vlcers in the passage of the Yard they are hard to be cured and have caruncles joyned with them or fleshy excressences which hinder the emission of the urine therefore in a slight ulcer we must inject Plantane water in which Alum litharge and white Lead have been boyled but in more grieous ulcers use this Liniment Take of Mercury precipitate one ounce Mercury sublimate one dram burnt lead two drams Grind them on a Marble stone wash them often with rose-Rose-water and let them dry in the shade Afterwards take of Hogs Fat six ounces White Wax two drams Let them be dissolved over the fire and add the pouder and two scruples of Camphire Make a Limment which must be besmeared over a Candle made of five ounces of White Wax and one ounce of Turpentine and let the Candle be put up into the Vrinary passage or let some convenient plaister wrapt over a smal probe be thrust in the Caruncle being taken away a drying and consolidating oyntment must be cast in But if there be an ulcer in the womb In the womb and that sordid and creeping the evil is incurable but the slighter are cured by injections of Alum waters in which Guajacum and Sarsaparilla is boyled or with pessaries of the juyce of Plantane with pouder of Aloes Bole Armenick white Lead and the like In a very sordid ulcer the Oyntment Aegyptiacum may be added or some Mercurial unguent and at last a drying and consolidating Oyntment may be used as that of Tutty or the like In more grieous ulcers suffumigations of the Womb are most profitable but whenas the Pipes are overheated by the coals these candels of Hercules Saxonia are good for a fume Take of Styrax Calamite Beniamin of each six drams wood of Aloes seven scruples white Frankincense one ounce Ladanum one dram and an half Orrice Cloves of each two drams Damask Roses six drams Cinnabar two drams coales of Willow half a pound Aqua Vitae as much as is sufficient Make Candels By the same Medicines the ulcers of the Guts are Cured But to the ulcers of the jaws whenas such Medicines cannot be applied make a Gargarisme of the Decoction of Sarsaparilla Vlcer of the Jaws the bark of Guajacum the Leaves of plantane scabious mittle red roses pomegranate pil sumach to which ad a little alume the decoction may be made in water and towards the end ad a little austere wine after they are washt the ulcers must be clensed with oyl of sulphur adding a convenient liquor or the compound water of alum which is thus prepared Take of mercury sublimate roch allum each one ounce The compound water of alum Grind them on marble stone then ad to them juyce of Lemons three ounces plantane water one pound and an half rose water nine ounces Boyl them in a glass to the consumption of the fifth part But you must have a care that no part of such medicines be swallowed down butter of antimony so called is very efficacious if the ulcer be gently touched with a piece of cotton moistned with the butter but there is need of the same caution here but whenas it cannot alwaies be prevented but somewhat wil slide into the stomach and so such medicines cannot be given safely enough but on the contrary other more gentle medicines are of little efficacy these ulcers are hard to be cured nay oftentimes are incurable the solution of gold is more safely applied to these ulcers prepared after this manner Take fifteen leaves of Gold roch alume nitere Salt each one ounce grind them on marble and poure to it some drops of spirits of vitriol afterwards poure on it spirits of wine two fingers bredth above it and let them stand in warm ashes last of al boyl that the leaves of the gold may be dissolved and the spirits of wine grow yellow Seperate the Spirits of wine by distillation then poure more on again and digest it and do this so often til the spirits of wine dissolve the gold and the salts be left at the bottom at last seperate the spirits of wine by distillation till t is dry and pour on spirits of turpintine and digest it eight dayes in a warm
be often fomented with a linnen cloth wet in the decoction of guajacum and sarsaparila for the same the alum water even now described is very good or if the evil be stubborn some ointment must be laid upon them with pouder of precipitate such as were proposed before or precipitate mixt with foure times as much of the white of an eg which layed upon such excrescenses of the arsehole in 24. houres space extracts and roots them out after wards drying and cooling things must be layed on Some cut off the french warts with Scissers and afterwards take out the root with the medicines even now proposed also if the extream part of the wart be toucht with oyl of vitriol it dries up and falls off Falling of the Hair The falling of the haire wich is joyned with this disease doth happen rather from the knawing off of the roots of the hair than from other causes Falling af the hair both in the head and beard which that it may be cured generals being premized first the hair must be shaved off if the patient wil allow it for al do not admit of it especially religious men whose diseases must be kept private as Hercules Saxonia writes de lue Vener Cap. 38. then astringent things must not be used by the use of which the evil is made worse and ulcers and paines of the head do follow upon it the matter being retained but those things rather are to be used which do discuss and clense away that vitious matter which eates of the haires as a lye in which have bin boyled Guajacum and its bark farsaparilla leaves of fumitory betony scabious southernwood wormwood penyroyal asarabaca agrick and if the skin be dry mallowsmarshmallowes pellitory of the wal must be added then the other medicines must be applied which are propounded lib. 5. pract par 3. sect 2. cap. 3. and 4. al which if they satisfie not particular suffumigation for the head and face must be prepared of quick-silver and cinnabar by which remedy in the space of six or nine dayes the falling of the haire is stayed But for the most part if universal purgers and emptiers be applied and the matterknawing the haires be taken away and proper lotions be used afterwards haire doth succed of its owne accord in the place of that that fel away see more in the place alledged de Alope et Capil deflu Pains Also most grievous pains do often afflict those who are sick of the Venereal Disease The Cure of pains but they are most commodiously taken away by medicines proper to this disease but Sarsaparilla is chiefly good to take them away therefore if the pains be very urgent on the first daies you must take a greater quantity of Sarsaparilla and a less of Guajacum and though the matter being dissolved and melted the pains be encreased til the second week because Sarsa hath an extraordinary attenuating faculty without any astriction of the bowels yet we must not desist from the use of it but the patient must be told of it afterwards when the pain is ceased we may encrease the quantity of Guajacum and China Root may be added also to mitigate those pains but by intervals almost every week give proper purging medicines but to the places pained apply fomentations of Guajacum Leaves of Penyroyal Sage Rosemary Chamomel flowers Oyl of white Lillies also of Rue Scorpions Vipers Guajacum are good if the pain be very urgent we may give also Laudanum Opiate Upon the use of al which if the pain depart not those mercurial Unguents which we propounded before in the universal Cure must be anointed on the places pained or by the addition of wax make Cerotes of them and lay them on the parts pained or some other plaisters above propounded to which also may be added Castor Hermodactil Roots Orice and other Arthritical Medicines especially Vigo's Cerote of Frogs is of good use to lay asleep those pains and this Cerot of Platerus is good too Take of Quick-silver three ounces stir it with one ounce of Turpentine washt with Aqua vitae adding Bears grease the marrow of a Calves Legg of each an ounce and half Oyl of white Lillies Chamomel Dill bayes worms or Foxes of each half an ounce Spike or Turpentine two drams Euphorbium Frankincense of each half an ounce Liquid Styrax six drams Hermodactils two drams Castor one dram Wax as much as is sufficient Make a Cerote Also the aforesaid Lavatories prepared of Mercury formerly propounded applied to the parts pained especially the Legs do allay the pains The Running of the Reins The Running of the Reins The Cure of the Running of the Reins which also is frequent in this Disease is not to be stopt at the beginning nor rashly whenas Nature doth endeavor to purge the virulent matter through that place which if it be supprest flies up to the Head nay infects the whol Body but if it do not stop when the decoction hath been used til the third week let the Region of the Loyns and Perinaeum be anointed with astringent Oyls made of Mastich Mint Roses Mirtle But let Medicines be given of the seed of the Chast-tree Lettice Hemp to which add a double quantity of the pouder of Sarsaparilla and those Medicines may be given either in the form of a pouder or with Syrup of Water of Lillies be reduced into the form of an Electuary 'T is good also if every day there be given two or three drams of Water-lillies with one or two scruples of Turpentine Some also do give for this Running of the Reins green Mercury precipitate or the Rozin of Guajacum and Turpentine which is washt with Violet Water and adding the Yolk of an Egg and the Decoction of Sarsaparilla 't is reduced into the form of a Potion A Consumption At last it often happens A Consumption that either by the violence of the Disease or the Cure not rightly ordered the sick come into a deep Consumption For the Cure of which the common Medicines for a Consumption wil not suffice but there is need of Specificks Which kind of Remedy Audovicus Septalius animadvers Lib 7. n. 214. doth propound and writes that by it he hath wholly freed very many from this disease and from such a Consumption But 't is prepared thus Take of choice Sarsaparilla cut smal six ounces infuse it twenty four hours in fifteen pound of warm water in a warm place in a vessel shut afterwards boyl it with a gentle fire till five pound be wasted then with a spoon perforated take out the Sarsaparilla and bruise it in a marble morter then cast it into the same water again adding two pound of lean Veal Coriander seed prepared one ounce or instead of it so much of the shavings of Guajacum or three drams of yellow Sanders sliced according to the condition of the Patients body and humors and the vessel being covered let it boyl again with a gentle fire till
which there had been boyled the Root of the greater Dock which having drunk up when he could not be cured by any other remedies of the Physitians he made a great deal of white Water his Urine being like Milk and so was freed from all his pains Or Take Sarsaparilla one ounce Sassafras Wood half an ounce the Root of the Clove Tree one ounce Citrine Saunders two drams Infuse all in three pints of Water for twenty four hours and afterward boyl the same and give of this Decoction one draught in the morning either alone or else with Harts horn Topicks The Body being thus in a due manner evacuated Topicks and the Antecedent cause that would have augmented the Disease being once taken away we then come to the very moderating of the pain and the taking away of the Conteining Cause of the pain and swelling and so unto the Topicks But if Topicks shall presently be administred before those Universal and General Remedies shall have been first made use of the Patient shall receive from thence far more hurt then benefit For either the matter which Nature endeavoureth to thrust forth to the Joynts is driven back unto the more inward parts from whence very grievous Symptoms are excited or else it is impacted into the Joynts and so the pain is exasperated or else the part is effeminated and made weak and loosened and so the flux is increased Which being not commonly taken notice of and Topicks being oftentimes most unseasonably and without any caution at al administred the sick persons do for the most part receive more hurt then good from them and from hence it was that the common and received opinion had its first original to wit that the best course is to administer nothing at al unto the pained Joynts And the truth is that it is fir becter to apply nothing call but to commit the whole business to Nature then to make use of such Medicaments as are altogether unfit and improper Now the Topicks that are applied they respect either the pain only or else withall the Cause of the pain to wit the Humor that now and formerly hath flown in exciting both a pain and a swelling Mitigaters of Pain The Pain in this Disease for the most part is a most grievous Symptom Mitigaters of Pain and which is most troublesom to the sick parties and which they most of all Curse and Bann as Lucian hath it in the beginning almost of his Tragopodagra and therefore also it is that they most of all desire the removal thereof And indeed it is altogether necessary that the Physitian should have regard thereunto because that if it be too great it causeth a restlessness dejecteth the strength and by attracting the Humors it augmenteth the Malady and so deservedly draweth our care unto it for its removal as Gaien in the 12. of his Method C. 1. and thereupon it sheweth and pointeth us unto the asswaging thereof by Anodynes Now Anodynes or Mitigaters of pain have likewise this Good and benefit going along with them to wit that by loosning the parts they make that the Humor that before flowed only unto the interiour parts about the Joynts comes now also to flow and be diffused unto the Ambient and fleshy parts And hence it is that the pains in the Gout before the swelling of the part are most Vehement and Intollerable and that so soon as the part affected beings to swel they are much Mitigated But now these Anodynes of what kind they are we have told you elswhere in our Institutions to wit such as mollifie and loosen the part affected and yet do not discuss the very Cause it self And here they may be provided of Goats Milk newly drawn out of their Dugs as also white bread and Milk together with the Yelks of Eggs and a little Saffron as likewise of the Leaves of Marsh-Mallows Mallows Colewort or Cabbage laid upon the place affected as hot as the Patient can wel endure them as also of Mallow Seeds Seeds of Marsh-Mallows Quinces Fleabane and especially the Mucillages of them Cassia newly drawn out of the Pipe with the Decoction or Water of Nightshade which as Avicen tels us is the best Remedy that can be unto which if there flow any hot Humors thereunto we may add some of the Oyl of Roses or Rose water but if the flowing Humors be cold then we are to add thereto the Oyl of Camomil and instead of Cassa out of the Pipe we may likewise make use of the Rob of the Elder Tree of white bread and Wine and indeed if the Humor be more hot red Wane but if cold or betwixt both then white Wine with the pouder of Camomile flowers and Oyl of Roses of Cheese new made of sheeps Milk and imposed upon the pained part and often changed of fresh-made Ox or Cow dung in the first beginning of the Spring as also the Water that is distilled out of it Amost useful Remedy also is the Mucillage of Fleabane Seed extracted with the Water of Roses or Night shade unto which somtimes a little Vinegar may be added and this Medicament is by Serapton and others very much commended In the very first beginning of the Disease Solenander taketh the thick stalks of Hendock and sils them with Salt and then stoppeth them with Clay or Paste and puts them in a moist place that the Salt may dissolve which liquor he keeps in a glass and with Clothes applieth it unto the pained part And he oftentimes also made use of this Cataplasm Take Mallows the whole Herb Root and all cut it into very smal pieces and boyl it in equal parts of Wine and Vinegar in a new Earthen Vessel until a third part be wasted away and then mingle therewith the thicker Bran of Rye as much as will suffice for the making of a Cataplasm and apply this hot unto the grieved part Forrestus relateth that he knew one that added hereunto a little Barly flower and that of the Water Lentile boyled in Milk with Camomile flowers and so reducing them into the form of a Cataplasm he put them upon the part affected with miraculous success as one could judg no other of it And here also very useful is the Yelk of an Egg reduced into the form of a Liniment with the Oyl of Violets and so is also the Water of the Sperm or seed of Frogs which perhaps have in them some kind of Narcotick quality Adrianus Spigelius writes that among the Moravians there is in use a very notable Remedy and noble experiment for the speedy cuting of the Gout-pains to wit the Water of Meadow Sweet distilled with its Roots and Flowers and this water is likewise in frequent use among the Silefians And it is also very convenient to foment the part affected with the Decoction of Parietary or Pellitory of the Wall And very many there be likewise that make use of Oyls and Fat 's But here we are to give you
this Caution and good cause there is also for it that these Oyls and Fat 's are warily and carefully to be made use of For in regard that the Gout hath often some kind of alliance with the Erysipelas as to the cause thereof and that it is a thing generally wel known how that all fat things that stop up the pores in the Erysipelas do more hurt than benefit the very same seemeth likewise to be feared in the Gout lest that the Pores being stopt up by these fats the humor being detained within the pain may be augmented and this even very experience testifieth And it was related unto me by a certain honest Neighbor of mine that he himself in the asswaging of the Gout pains in his own Body found nothing to be better than Cheese of Sheeps Milk new and fresh made and laid on but often renewed For no sooner did the Cheese begin being made hot by the heat of the part to become fat and to drop forth butter as it were but as he said his pain was thereupon very much increased Take the Pith of wheaten Bread half a pound and boyl it in as much new Milk as wil serve to make a Cataplasm and then add of the mucilage of Marshmallow seeds two ounces the meal of Linseeds and Fenugreek of each two drams Powder of Camomil flowers and Melilote of each one ounce Saffron one dram Oyl of Roses and Camomil of each half an ounce and mingle them wel together Or Take Milk newly come from the Cow one ounce and half Crumbs of white Bread five drams Barly meal one ounce and half the common Hermodactyles six drams Saffron one dram Oyl of Camomile as much as wil suffice and make hereof a Cataplasm Or Take white Bread six ounces Milk as much as wil suffice and mingle them wel at the fire and then add the Yelks of two Eggs Electuary of Roses two ounces Saffron one scruple and mingle them Or Take the Meal of Barly of Beans of the bitter Vetch Orobus of each one ounce of Linseed six drams the Powder of Camomile flowers three drams of Melilote two drams of Saffron one scruple boyl them in a sufficient quantity of the Water of Camomile flowers then add the Yelks of two Eggs Oyl of Camomile and Roses of each one ounce and mingle them Or Take the soft Crumbs of Wheaten Bread one ounce Powder of the Mullein flowers two ounces boyl them in Milk and then add of the flower of Cassia one ounce and mingle them Or Take of Linseeds and Fenugreek seeds equal parts of each let the Mucilage be drawn out of them with rose-Rose-water and then add the yelks of two Eggs and a little Vinegar and then sprinkle in Bean Meal and make a Cataplasm Or Take Meal of Barly of Linseed of Fenugreek of Beans Powder of Camomile flowers of each half an ounce Marsh-mallow Roots one ounce Oyl of Roses and Camomile of each one ounce and half Yelks of three Eggs the Rob of Wine one ounce mingle them and make a Cataplasm Or Take the flowers of Mulleyn as much as you think fit infuse them in a sufficient quantity of Red Wine for two months and then let them be distilled let the place be fomented with the distilled water and then after anoynted with the Oyl or Liquor of Mulleyn flowers that is in the Summer time collected by the Sun-beams in a Glass close stopped Or Take the yong and tender buds of the Hazel Tree press the Oyl out of them after the same manner as it is wont to be made of Linseed The Body of it that remaineth after the pressing forth of the Oyl let it be burnt and out of the Ashes let there be the Salt drawn forth with pure spring water and let this be mingled with the aforesaid Oyl The Oyl when it is mingled with the Salt let it be clarified by pouring and passing it through a Box of Wood as Painters are wont to clarifie the Oyl of Linseed for their own use and so it becomes a very excellent Medicament for the mitigating of pains But now these very Anodynes themselves may be somwhat varied according to the quality of the humor and in a humor that is more hot there may be added some certain things that are cooling as Roses and the Water that cometh from them Plantane Water and the like But in a cold Cause the Flowers of Camomile and Melilote Wormwood Linseed and Fenugreek may be added Narcoticks If Anodynes be not sufficient for the aforesaid purpose Narcoticks then Narcoticks are to be made use of which in regard that they bring a certain kind of numness upon the part they do not only forth with asswage the pain but they likewise by their heat which they obtain do also withal resolve the humors and so with benefit and safety and without any danger at al as it is thought they may be made use of as Platerus writeth in the 2. B. of his Practice and therfore he as likewise many others have done much commendeth the Leaves of Henbant and Mandâ—ake and Poppy if while they be new they be first bruised or boyled and so laid upon the part and their Oyls are also very useful and so is the Juyce also that is pressed forth of them and used for a fomentation as likewise the Root of Mandtake and Henbane seed applied together with other things in the form of a Cataplasm The new and fresh Leaves likewise of Tobacco bruised and laid upon the pained part do asswage the pain And the same Platerus as likewise other Authors have here recourse unto Opium also and they mingle it together with other Anodynes and unto two ounces of these they add a dram of Opium And he writeth also that if it be dissolved in the infusion of the Spirit of Wine alone or the infusion of Saffron four ounces of the yellowest of it and one scruple of Camphyre with a dram of Opium and the part where the pain is be wel washed or bathed with the said Liquor it is a most efficacious and soveraign Remedy And so likewise the Opiate Antidores as Treacle Mithridate Philonium may be added while they are new especially in case the quantity of the Opium may be augmented And yet notwithstanding we are not to continue long in the use of these Opiates in regard that they are enemies unto the native heat and Nerves And yet nevertheless the same Platerus tels us in the first B. of his Practice Chap. 5. of the burting of the Touch that he could never find that the Skin could be made stupid and sensless of pain by any external Narcotick applied thereunto albeit that so he might know somwhat of a certainty he had applied a Mass of Opium when he had first softened it unto the part pained with the Gout But the truth indeed is that Narcoticks when they are administred do very easily asswage the pain but then withal it being so that they hinder the motion
of the humors unto the external parts they may also very easily cause some inconvenience and make the pain longer since that the pain is wont to return again in a short time after As for example Take Barly Meal four ounces the Crumb of Wheaten Bread three ounces Milk as much as will suffice boyl them to the consistence of a Cataplasm and then add of the Oyl of Roses one ounce the Yelks of three Eggs Opium one scruple and mingle them Or Take the soft pith of white Bread as much as wil suffice pour thereon of Cream of Tartar a sufficient quantity and then add Saffron one dram Frankincense half a dram Powder of Earth-worms two drams the Yelks of four Eggs Henbane and white Poppyseed of each three drams let them boyl in a double Vessel for half an hour and make a Cataplasm Or Take Leaves of Henbane three handfuls the Berries of Nightshade one ounce let them be boyled til they be soft and then bruised to a Mash then strew upon it one ounce and half of Barly Meal and a little Oyl of Roses and so make a Cataplasm Or Take Barly Meal the soft Crumb of white Bread of each half a handful Leaves of Henbane Mallows Violets of each one handful Flowers of Camomile Rindes of white Poppy of each half a handful Oyl of Earth-worms and Poppy of each one ounce and make a Cataplasm If you think fit you may also add of Opium and Saffron of each one dram Or Take Roots of Mandâ—ake and Leaves of Henbane of each as much aâ— you think wil suffice boyl and bruise them all to a Mash and then add of Barly Meal and Bean meal with Oyl of Roses a sufficient quantity of each and make a Cataplasm Or Take Crude Vitriol two pound Spirit of Wine three pints the Water of the Elder Tree one Quart Mingle them all well together in a Glass Vessel well Luted and then puting to the Alembick and the Receiver in which there may be put the Seeds of Henbane bruised two ounces the flowers of Mullein Elder and Camomile of each two hand fuls let there be a destillation by degrees until the Glass be Fire hot After the distillation let the spirit with the flegm be separated from the Seeds and flowers and so let it be kept in a Glass for use Or Take Leaves of Henbane one handful Nightshade Sengreen the Heads of Garden Poppyes of each half a handful Mandrake Roots one ounce Flowers of Camomile and Mulleyn of each one pugil Seed of Fleabane one ounce and half of Henbane one dram Let them be boyled in Milk for a Fomentation then let the Remainders be bruised to a mash and then add of the Meal of Lin-seed one ounce Barley Meal and Oyl of Roses of each two ounces and make a Cataplasm And there are some also that refer hither the washing of the grieved part with cold Water and indeed this they do by the authority of Hippocrates who in his 5 Sect. 25. Aphorism writeth in this manner The Gout pains of the Joynts as also Convulsions and many more of these kind of pains are lessened and taken away by the large affusion of cold Water and plentiful pouring of it upon the part that is in pain for a Moderate stupifying and benumming removeth the pain And so likewife Donat. Antonius Ferrus in his 2 Tract of the Gout Chap. 9. writeth that he had oftentimes had experience of this Remedy and that when all other Remedies were to no purpose he betook himself unto the pouring of cold Water upon the part as unto his last shift and that the pain was forthwith asswaged thereby And the very truth is that it cannot indeed be at all denied that cold Water being poured forth upon the pained part doth not only drive back but likewise produce a kind of stupidity and benummedness and thereby asswage the pain but it is to be feared lest that by this means the innate heat of the part be destroyed and so a weakness brought upon the part by reason of which the Malady may afterward be rendred more grievous and moreover the Humor may be impacted into the part and there condensed and thickned or else haply by this violent Repulse the Humors may be made to rush unto the more inward parts Repellers or Medicaments that drive back But now as for Topicks Repellers that are directed unto the Cause and in the first place touching Repelling Medicaments we say that although they are by some commended yet alone they have here scarcely any place at all For seeing that Nature her self hath ordained this Motion and that she endeavoureth to drive forth the vitious Humors from the more internal unto the external parts that are less noble if this motion be hindered and the Humors driven back again unto the internal and more noble and principal parts this cannot be done without the extream hazard of the life and hereupon there will arise the worst and most dangerous Symptoms that will not cease unless Nature again expel forth the vitious Humor unto some other Joynt And moreover when the pain is a little mitigated in regard that the matter is diffused unto the external parts that are about the Joynt if by the Repellers it be driven back unto the internal parts the pain happeneth then to be increased and hence it is also that very many cannot so much as endure the cold Air from without neither yet somtimes the external Air although it be not so very cold but that there is a Necessity of covering the affected Member if they expect to have their pain Mitigated And furthermore if the matter hath already flown out of the part into the Joynt by the use of Medicaments that drive back and Cool it is made more thick and impacted into the part and so the Malady rendred more difficult to be cured But yet never the less if by the sudden and overgreat afflux of the humors especially such as are more hot the pain be much increased even in the very first beginning of the sit in so much that it seemeth to cal for all the Care and to require that al the means that are used may be for the removal thereof and that therefore we have a mind to moderate it and somwhat to drive it back we may then indeed make use of Repellers but not of them alone and by themselves but mingled with Anodynes Venefection and Purgation having gone before Like as on the Contrary we are not in the beginning to make use of those Medicaments that are over loosening since that they help forward the afflux of the Humors but we ought in the first place to make use of those Medicaments that do somwhat stop and stay the afflux of the Humors And therefore we may then lawfully add Lettice Sengreen Purflaine Violets Plantane Roses and such Compounds as are made out of them as also what Vinegar we think fit As Take Barly Meal three ounces boyl it in
Oxycrate then add the Yelks of two Eggs Saffron one scruple and mingle them Or Take Mucillage of the Seed of Fleabane extracted with Rose Water two ounces Mucillage of Marsh Mallow Seeds one ounce Barly Meal as much as will suffice the yelk of one Egge and so make a Cataplasm Or Take The water of the Sperm of Frogs four ounces Water of Nightshade of the flowers of Elder and of Plantane of each two ounces Camphire half a scruple and mingle them well together If you think fit the Mucillage of the Seed of Fleabane and of Quinces of each one ounce may be added Or Take Juyce of Henbane Sengreen Lettice of each two ounces Barly Meal one ounce the Yelk of one Egg and Oyl of Roses two ounces Mingle them well together Or Take Red Roses â—ne handful the Meal of Fenugreek Seed Beans and Barly of each one ounce Red Sanders one dram and half Camomile flowers one pugil when they are boyled and throughly bruised you are to add the Yelks of two Eggs Vinegar four ounces Oyl of Roses as much as will suffice and make a Cataplasm Or. Take Water of Night-shade of Plantane of the Sperm of Frogs of each two ounces Oyl of Roses and Camomile of each one ounce Cows Milk three ounces the Meal of Beans Marsh-Mallows and Barly of each one ounce or as much as will suffice Saffron one scruple the yelks of two Eggs Smallage two scruples Make a Cataplasm Some there are that steep Harts-born burnt and prepared in the Water of Mulleyn flowers or else they boyl it in the same Water and in the streyning they wet and soak Linen Clothes and these they lay upon the part that is pained Or Take Mulleyn new and fresh gathered six pound Wine one Quart Let them be Macerated for three whole daies and then afterwards let them be destilled Or Take The Flowers of Mulleyn and fill a Glass bâ—ttle ful of them and then stopping the month thereof very close set it in the Sun for so they dissolve as it were into a liquor wherein you are to wet a Linen Cloath and lay it upon the part affected for the asswaging of the pain If you judget sitter to make use of Oyls Then Take Frogs five of them in Number Earth-worms washed in Wine three ounces boyl them in the Oyl of Roses and strain them Discussing Medicaments But now when the force and violence of the fluxion is once past and gone Discussives and the part become swoln then those things are withall to be mingled which do cal forth the Humor and gently discuss the same and so take away some part of the Cause But now here Physitiaus are wont for the most part of them to be very long and Tedious in reckoning up and distinguishing the several Medicaments which of them are fit and proper in a hot Cause and which of them when the Cause is cold yea and which of them are most convenient for all kind of Humors But although we deny not but that we are in some kind of manner to have respect unto the Condition of the Humor that floweth in unto the Joynts yet nevertheless our chief and main Care ought to be that the ferous and sharp wheyish Humor which is the nighest and most principal Cause of the pain may be called forth of the more deep and close parts in the Joynts unto the external parts and that they be insensibly discussed and yet that this may the more conveniently be so done we may likewise as we said but now have some regard unto those Humors that the aforesaid serous and sharp Humor forcibly draweth along with it and which by Reason of the pain are together attracted to the part that is pained and which are very commonly taken for the highest and most immediate Cause of the Gout Yea and moreover that very serous Humor it self the prime and principal Cause of this Evil is in some more and in others less hot And therefore if the flowing Humor be more hot then the discussing Medicaments ought to be so ordered that they may indeed gently disperse the Humor but yet so that they give no occasion at all for any new afflux And such a like hot Humor inregard that it is withall moveable and thin is easily discussed neither needeth it any stronger Medicaments But if the Humor be less hot or somwhat cold then we may very safely administer Medicaments that are more hot Neither will there be any Cause to fear that then a new flux may easily be excited and therefore for the dispersing of such a like Humor there are necessarily required such Medicaments as are more hot then ordinary But now with what Medicaments that wheyish and as it is so called by the Chymists Tartarous Humore is to be drawn forth and discussed we are here and that for very good Reason diligently to make inquiry For we have elswhere told you viz. in our Tract of Chymic Confil. Diss Chap. 15. that the Medicaments ought in their own kind to be like unto the Cause For there is not any thing that suffereth from every thing neither is there any thing that may be united unto every thing Gum Arabick and Tragacanth and the Gum of Cherry Trees are dissolved by Water because of the neer alliance and agreement in their Natures but but so is not Sulphur and other things of a Sulphurous Nature and those things that are Oyly Sulphur is dissolved by Oyl but not by Aqua Fortis although the said Water is able to dissolve silver and other Metals The hands when they are all foul with Pitch or Turpentine are not to be made clean with Water but with Oyl or some thing else that is fat In burnings we use not to administer cold Water but Linseed Oyl Vernish and the like that may draw forth that fire and burning are to be applied And so in the Erysipelas or other wise called Rosa we ought not to impose those things that are fat and Oyly but ley tempered with Oyl and Sope that is dissolved in Elder Water and the Like which do not at al shut the pores but yet nevertheless they draw forth and discuss that subtile and hot Humor And the very same is the case in the Gout and since that it hath its Original not from a Watery Humor neither yet also from that which is Oyly or Sulphurous as the Chymists speak but from a Humor that is sharp and Salt for the drawing forth and dissipating of this Humor those things that contain in them a volatile and flitting Salt are rather to be administred then those things that are fat and Oyly And experience hath already taught many that the Gout pains are increased by such things as are fat And hence it is that the Chymists do so much commend and not without cause Salt Armoniack oftentimes sublimated dissolved in Wine or some other convenient liquor and so imposed upon the pained part Others commend the Salt of Urine
two drams Flowers of Sage Hyssop Rosemary Arabian Lavender or Cassidony and Spicknard of each one dram and half the Root of Birthwort and Hermodactyls of each one ounce pour in hereunto of the Spirit of Wine one pint or as much as wil suffice let them be macerated for one whol day and afterwards add of the best Turpentine one pound and half and so distil them in a glass Alembick Alexander Trallianus and others commend this and they assure us that by it not only such as have had the Gout from the flowing of a flegmatick Humor but that likewise many that have had the pains of the Gout from the flux of a Coleâ—ick humor have recovered their health and strength again Take Time Organy Savory and Calaminth of each as much as you think fit and boyl them in the sharpest Vinegar and with the hot Decoction often wash and foment the parts affected For the Knobs or Knots If the matter be now grown into the wonted hard Knobs For the Knots in the Joynts it is indeed a most difficult business to dissolve them but if they be not already become old and inveterate there may be yet some hopes left of curing them Now for the discussing of these knobs and knots we are not only to administer External and Topick Remedies but likewise Internal Remedies The Internal Remedies are those Antidotes above mentioned amongst which the Antidote of Trallianus made of Centanty is more especially useful And the same Trallianus writeth likewise That a certain person troubled with the Gout when the knots began first to appear by the drinking of the Decoction of Groundpine or Herb Ivy he prevented the further generating of them The External and Topick Remedies useful for the dissolving of the Knobs are Ammoniacum dissolved in Vinegar Or Take the simple Diachylon Emplaster one ounce Ammoniacum Galbanum Bdellium Sagapenum of each one dram Oyl of Orrace and white Lilyes of each half an ounce powder of Orrace one dram and make an Emplaster Or Take Briony Roots Wilde Cowcumber and Orrace Roots of each two ounces Roots of Marsh-Mallows and white lilies roasted under the hot Embers of each four in number the Seed of Nettle Mustard and Water Cresses of each one ounce Let them all be wel mingled and stird about together with Goose Fat and the Oyl of sweet Almonds as much as will suffice and make a Cataplasm Galen and others do much commend that which is made of old Cheese for the Skin being broken and divided of its own accord without any Section it refresheth and comforteth the Joynts that are from day to day without any hurt at all freed from the Stones Viz. Take Old and tart Cheese three ounces or as much as you think fit dip it in a sufficient quantity of the broth of Salt swines flesh and then after you have sufficiently pounded it in a Mortar let it be imposed upon the part affected Others boyl the Salt Feet of Swine in water until they be very soft and tender and afterwards they mingle with them of old Cheese two parts and Water Cresses one part and so they make an Emplaster which they greatly commend Or Take Juyce of Tobacco three ounces Citrine Wax two ounces Rosin of the Pine Tree one ounce and half Turpentine one ounce Oyl of Camomile as much as wil suffice and make a soft Cerote Or Take Honey Bears Grease and sharp Vinegar of each one pound or pinte Mountain Snakes and Snailes one or two of them boyl them in a Glazed Vessel over a soft fire until the Vinegar be consumed afterwards strein them and add of Wax three ounces Let them then beal dissolved together and kept for use and with this the place affected is to be anointed by the fire side The Dirt that is found in some certain Baths having in them a power to Mollisie and Resolve are here likewise very useful such as are those of St. Peter and Bartholomew in the province of Padua with which the part affected is to be fomented for an hour and better every Morning and Evening and afterwards to be washed with the Bath-Water Erasistratus Sicyonius provided this excellent and effectual Remedy against these knobs and knots Take Oake Missletoe one pound and half Frankincense Wax Fat Torches and Rosin of the Pine Tree of each one pound Those things that were dissolveable he melted and stird them wel about throughly mingling them with the Fat Torches from the which when all the Fat was flown forth he took the Liquor from the fire and strained it and then beating the Frankincense into a very sine powder he put it â—hereâ—nto dayly stirring it about until he had brought it into a Mass that would not foul or stick to his Hands See more of this in Trallianus his Eleventh B. Chap. 6. Of the Sciatick Pain THe pain of the Hips commonly called the Sciatica in indeed a kinde of the Gout The Sciatick Pain so that there may nothing seem needful to be spoken as touching it besides what hath been already said But seeing that both in regard of the part affected it hath somthing peculiar and that in the Cure there is something that is proper thereunto to be observed we shall therefore speak a little further thereof There are indeed some who by the Ischiadick or Sciatica pain understand some other affect differing from the Gout which is to be accounted among the Chronical affects and this happeneth also unto those that never were troubled with the Gout either in the Feet or in the hands from excrements there heaped up together or flowing into that part and this for the most part a little now and then and by degrees But it is not our purpose here to treat of that affect in regard that it pertaineth unto the impotency and inability in walking by reason of something amiss in the Hip and extendeth it self further then the Gout of which only our purpose is here to Treat and therefore we shall here handle the Sciatica pain only as it is Arthritick that is to say a species or kind of the Gout of which we have been hitherto speaking But now as touching the place affected there is here some kind of Disagreement among the learned Physitians Aetius Tetrab 3. Serm. 4. Chap. 1. out of Archigenes writeth thus They are properly saith he to be accounted â—schiadick or Sciaâ—ick persons that have a pain afflicting them about some certain Joynt of the veâ—tebrae But somtimes there goeth before this Malady and as it were to Vsher it in a pain of the Muscles lying neer and especially the Loyns but somtimes again the beginning of the affect is from the very Joynt it self but now somtimes it so happeneth that the pain of the Vertebrae being almost taken away the grief sticketh only about the Ham and in some neer unto the Ankles but in others the whole Leg is equally afflicted with pain and many also have this pain fixed about their Groyns and
Treacle touching which the Author of the Book of Treacle to Piso in his 15. Chapter wrireth But it most of all profiteth faith he when any one shall frequently take thereof whiles he is yet well and in health in regard that it consumeth the superfluous humors of the whol body and changeth likewise the temperament thereof And a little after I advise saith he that every man in such like diseases would use Treacle because that it both drieth up the superfluous humors and permitteth not that any other be bred whereupon very many from the use of this alone in the beginning have been altogether freed from the Gout Aetius in the place alleadged hath this description of the Antidote consisting of four things The Antidote of four things by some called a Mystery viz. Take Gentian Bayberries Mirrh equal parts and make a pouder Give hereof every day half a spoonful in hot Water Oribasius in the place alleadged hath another description hereof Take Germander one pound Gentian round Aristolochy or Birthwort of each two ounces Rue seed one sextary Let them be well bruised and searsed Give dayly hereof one spoonful That which is made of seven things hath as followeth Take St. Johns wort one ounce Centaury and Groundpine of each three ounces The Antidote of seven things The Antidote of Cantaury Gentian five ounces round Aristolochy one ounce Agarick three ounces Parsley one ounce Attick Honey sive pound The Dose one dram in three Cyaths of Water But Aetius chiefly commendeth the Antidote of Centaury and he writeth that he knew many cured by the use thereof and that it was so wholsom for such as were troubled with the Gout that the use thereof had enabled many that had been affected herewith fifteen yeers and so wel recovered them that they went journeys on foot and that it was grateful to the stomach convenient for the belly and provoking much urine The manner of making it is thus Take the tops of Centaury the less Roots of Centaury the Greater Germander Gentian round Aristolochy of each alike as suppose one pound Let one dram hereof be given for fourty daies out of hot water and in the other three hundred twenty five following daies of the yeer let half a dram be administred after the same manner And the same Aetius likewise very highly commendeth the Antidote of St. Johns wort The Axtidote of St. Johns wort as that which cureth al manner of Gouts the Disease of the Hips and al diseases of the joynts in general being drunk for the space of one whol yeer that it warmeth and cherisheth the stomach maketh the sight sharp and quick and that it maketh the rest of the senses also mote cleer and fitter for the discharge of their several Offices that it gently evacuateth the Urine and that it is excellent good in the falling-sickness that it freeth from the great and grievous pains of the head and lastly that it mollifieth the Liver and the Spleen when they are hardened into a Schirrus Now the manner of making it is this Take Germander nine ounces Centaury eight ounces round Aristolochy seven ounces Gentian Root six ounces the tops of St. Johns wort five ounces Parsley four ounces Spignel three ounces Valerian two ounces Agarick two ounces Honey well scummed three pound Alexander Trallianus greatly commendeth this Antidote of the Philosopher Heraclitus as much approved of by many Viz. Heraclitus his Antiâ—â—â— Take Spicknard two ounces Gentian long Aristolochy round Aristolochy or Birthwort the best Myrrh Bayberries Rhapontick of each half an ounce The Dose is one dram The best time to take it is the beginning of the Spring and the Autumn and indeed in those places and persons that are cold the Spring time but in others that are more hot the Autumn The same Trallianus preferreth the Diacorallium Antidote before al other Antidotes whatsoever The Antidote Diacorallium which is thus made Take of Corals two drams Mirrh four ounces Cloves half an ounce Rhapontick one ounce Peony Root the like quantity long and round Aristolochy of each two ounces Spicknard four ounces and make hereof a Pouder And of this he giveth in the morning one scruple out of warm water and after it he enjoyneth abstinence from al kind of food for six hours but yer the truth is a shorter time of fasting may suffice maketh the beginning hereof about the Kalends of January and so continueth administring of it for a hundred daies by reason of the long continued perseverance of the Indication as Cappivaccius explaineth it and then for thirty daies he intermitteth the administring of it because of the strength and powers of the body that they may be recollected as the same Cappivaccius tels us And then again he administreth it for a hundred daies mote and so again as before he intermits for thirty daies When the two hundred and sixty daies wherein there were two hundred potions administred are over and past he then giveth it again but now not every day but only every other day and so in a hundred and three score daies he administreth fourscore Potions And afterwards again in two hundred and sixty daies he administreth eighty Potions giving them every thud day until the three hundred sixty five Potions shal have been al taken But he warneth them that take this Antidote that they abstain from Anger Venery Astringent and sweet Wine al kind of bitter Pot-herbs the heads of Fish Crabs and Crevishes Lobsters Eels Hares flesh al kind of Pulse but more especially Beans And many more of such like Antidotes there are to be found in Paulus Aegineta Aetius and Trallianus in the places before alleadged Out of these afterwards in the Ages not long before ours and in our Age also there arose divers other such like Compositions Thomas Erastus telleth us that he had two of these communicated unto him and extolled with high commendations One of them that was given him by an Italian Physitian who called it the Pouder of Jupiter and was imparted unto him by Doctor Conradus Gesner is made in this manner following Take Round Aristolochy Jupiters Pouder such as is right the true Rhapontick of each one ounce Macedonian Parsley seed half an ounce Germander tops Centaury the less and St. Johns wort of each ten drams make a Pouder hereof In the first month give every day one dram hereof out of warm Water and afterwards half a dram for one whol yeer every month you must also order the Patient to take a purge or two or else for such as are flegmatick you may intermingle the Pouder of Agarick with the aforesaid Pouder a little to purge the sick person The other Composition bestowed on me by Dn. D. Christoph Wirsung an Augustan Physitian is thus to be made Take the true round Aristolochy Gentian Rhapontick or Centaury the greater but I think the true Rhapontick to be better the tops of Germander Groundpine or Herb Ivy of each alike