turns three pints of Milk but because the Curd steals away the best of the Cochinel I order the Posset to be made first of white-Wine and then mix the Tincture therewith But these are my private Improvements of proper materials which I mention for an example to encourage a little beyond old Authors In Swellings and Carbuncles In ordinary Swellings the Doctors have directed many apt Poultices I remember their Emollient with Mallows c. I used to make at the learned direction of the eldest of them and other learned Physicians twenty four years since in my Apprentiship but alwayes with Saffron which perhaps is forgot I am sure it would help Suppuration and ripen speedily and cherish the Rising But they do well to refer much to Chyrurgions herein And the Antient had need to give the younger Chyrurgions good Instructions in Cases that have not come in their time The Irish Chyrurgions at last in the failer of other Applications used to lance a multitude every morning with good success which I advised lately to some that do well when certainly ripened but lest they should be too quick or slow requires their skill to judge and conscientious care as they are tender of Lives But Mr. Dixons Soap-Poultice with Figgs I hope may be effectual and save them much labour and I take leave to advantage it with an offer of Salt of Tobacco where it may be had in the room of Bay-Salt and abundance may be made thereof quickly by which or only mixt with Emollients and Suppurators I have suck'd out incredible quantities of the thinner matter presently and the very root or last core soon after when it hath lain very deep in the flesh But sometimes the Patient hath not been able to sleep for the anguish in which case the Poultice with Mallows Lilly-roots Figs Lintseed with Hogs-grease or Palm-Oyl may be laid by night and the other again in the morning or white Bread and Milk with a Lilly-root and Oyl only with advantage to give ease for necessary rest The Patient must be sure to keep his Bed carefully till the Sore have run two dayes at least I have known strong-men cast away by rising against advice before the Swelling be perfect and greatest care must be used in the coming out of Sweat with a comfortable draught before and before the dressing the Sore especially if lanced which may then best be tented with fine Spunge to keep on the running prest in Mellilot and Basillicon but not made too big to put the Patient to pain when it swelleth which a discreet Chyrurgion can easily avoid But in medling with such Wound for feat of accidents he must not be absent from the party too long or give notice where he may certainly be found to give timely ease If a Loosness happen in Spots or whilst a Swelling is rising or before it be discharged let the party presently take two drachms of Diascordium or Diascordium and Conserve of red Roses of each one drachm and Mithridate half a drachm to which also may be added true Bole or Confect de Hyacintho ten grains Also in his Drink boyl good store of burnt Hartshorn and some Bolaustins And if the Swelling be too sluggish or by any accident threaten to retire it might be worth the expert Chyrurgions consultation whether the applying a Cupping-Glass to it without scarification might not advantage a Cataplasm or Dyacilon cum Gummis thereon after to certain effect The party visited may do well to have the Epispastick-Plaister alwayes by him to apply in diverse parts before the Swelling begin to arise else it s rational not to come too nigh it if there be need of them at all left the Blister detract from the Swelling and cause it to fall For example If the Swelling arise in the Arm-pit to lay no blistering application above the elbow or if in the groin not above the knees c. And if any inconveniency be sencibly found in the use of the Sharp-drink so frequently as aforesaid which will soon then be felt by the intolerable sharpness of the Urine or Seige you may aâ—ay or wholly suspend a day or two and use Emulsions and softer Julips sweetned also with Conserve of Red-Roses strained in case of Cholerich loosness applying still suitable Sweat-drivers alone or mixt at discretion To which end I would advise all to have by them at the rate of every six in a Family these quantities at least of these common things following viz. Mithredate and London-Treacle of each four ounces Venice-Treacle and Diascordium of each two ounces Conserve of red Roses and Wood-sorrel of each four ounces Spirit of Sulphur set out of the way of children and liquorish ignorant ones that they tast not of it one ounce the plague-Plague-water of Matthias or at least treacle-Treacle-water half a pint Syrup of Woodsorrel as much the Plaisters to raise Blisters at first sickning four ounces and as much Mellilot to dress them By which plain and cheapest things they may have something material at hand for sick and well to preserve till they can apply to their Physician for want of which it hath gone ill with some shut-up suddenly But I desire none to follow any Direction of mine that do not first consider humbly the causes of Visitation and above all apply the Blood of Sprinkling and all other helps as purchased thereby and beware lest they render their Cure impossible through impenitency Likewise if they first endeavour to set their house and heart in order they might more sweetly rest and make the Cure the more easie in their sickness For Prevention A multitude of Antidotes are fairly set down by the Physitians but in all though but that common one of Concerve of Wood-sorrel and Mithridate or Venice-treacle yea in ordinary mornings draughts I commend the use of true Spirit of Sulphur Yet because the Pill Rufus hath so good report by the Colledg and is especially again commended by Dr. Middlethwite's print for weekly use with reverence to them who may perhaps use it themselves and for the weak stomach sake of such as cannot well digest dirt and then wonder what aile them I desire it may be wash'd in Spirit of Wine by the art of their Apothecaries who know there is cause through the shameful adulteration of the cheif materials thereof Take then Myrrh six ounces Aloes half a pound Mastick four ounces Saffron two ounces infuse them apart in Boultheads in Spirit of Wine close stopt in Balneâ— till the Wine be tinctured of a deep colour then pour the tinctured-Spirits from the ingredients and add more Spirits to the feces until it will yeild no more tincture then filture all the Tinctures through a brown paper put it then into a glasse body with head and cooler on it and so distil off the Spirits gently and when a Film cometh on it take off the head and stir it to a due consistence Now this Pill in Surfeits is excellent and where there is
found safety in refuge hither in his distress though I confess under less light and warnings by Signs and Wonders yet also being under less stumblings by Professors I retain my hope that God may yet shew Mercy even to such as him making speedy refuge hither And I could give blessed presidents also to encourage poor wandring Children who have played the Harlot after many Lovers to return now quickly to their Habitation as Jer. 3. 1. But thou hast played the Harlot with many Lovers yet return unto me saith the Lord Only acknowledge thine iniquity c. ver 13. towards which I will 〈◊〉 give you a fourth Scripture-direction for Cure Fourthly then That the Lords People also humbly accept the punishment of their iniquity considering Ezek. 14. 23. and declare also all their Abominations even before the Heathen under the hand of the Almighty Lev. 26. 40 41. Ezek. 12 16. And lastly To waite in hope on God for special execution of Judgment in general defilement and defection Num. 25. 8. compared with Psal 106. 30. and Jer. 5. 1. Amos 5. 15. And in all with bowels of compassion to poor Infants that know not their right hand from their left at midnight to awake in the sence of their calamity as Lam. 2. 19. Arise cry out in the night in the beginning of the watches pour out thine heart like water before the Lord lift up thine hands towards him for the life of thy young children that faint for hunger in the top of every Street For with the Merciful thou wilt shew thy self merciful c. Psa 18. 25. And to you that fear his Name shall the Sun of Righteousness arise with healing in his wings Mal. 4. 2. EVEN SO COME LORD JESUS COME QUICKLY Amen A little Mite added to the multitude of outward means published by many others towards Cure and Prevention of the present PLAGUE NOw seeing so grent a plenty of outward means already prescribed by the Colledge in general and some of their number and others in particular amongst whom one Mr. Dixon hath in an ingenious way performed the office of a real Neighbour according to Luke 10. 36. I shall but humbly cast in a mite only of such things as I have observed to be very effectual in the like and this Contagion which I have not yet seen published And first for the plenteous use of Spirit of Sulphur which I advise all to have by them it being not above three shillings the ounce and is veâ—y specifick to remove Malignity to open great Obstruction quench Cholor strengthen the Spirits and further Sweat and the effect of other Antidotes if plenteously and rightly used I advise then that the general Posset-drinks both for Sweat and in stead of Julips may be made hereof thus Take White-wine a pint and Spirit of Sulphur forty drops mix them set on three pints of Milk and when it boyles up pour in the White-wine and Spirit it will make your posset wherein you may boyl the ingredients for Sweat directed by the Doctors or Mr. Dixon c. Butter-buâ—-root especially and cast in half a drachm of whole Cochinel strain it and give to cause Sweat plentifully after a dose of Metridate or Venice-Treacle or thirty drops of Spirit of Harts-horn in the first draught thereof Also for Julip either the plain Posset before mentioned before the other ingredients be in it or without the Wine take sixty drops of Spirit of Sulphur with it only you may turn three pints of Milk to a clear Whey stirring it gently sweeten it with syrup of Citron or Oranges or Wood-Sorrel or a Syrup made of Sage-flowers or Mary-gold made by a strong infusion in their own distilled Waters or in Borrage or bawme-Bawme-waters the Marigolds for the Syrrup being first bruised with which this Whey may be sweetned 'T will be very pleasant and profitable drink for refreshment Salt of Sage especially or of Harts-horn or Ivory twenty grains of either of them in Broth expel malignity wonderfully and by such helps added to the usual Antidotes with proper Cordials and outward applications God hath comforted me with the Lives of many in appearance past hope and I dare do no less now than call upon the skilful as the Disease is extraordinary timely to reinforce the ordinary means of their practice to their uttermost capacity to reach the head of the Malignity within the bound of discretion though out of Old form the neglect whereof will be as hazardous as the handsing these edge-tools on the other hand ignorantly Jellyes of Harts-horn and Ivory made in White-wine and Borrage or Pippin-water or the like are needful often and for Broths Capon or Cock rather than Chicken in this case and with the help of Cordial and Aromatick Hearbs also with coolers as Marigolds plenteously Sweet Majorum Bawm Time Rosemary with Woodsorrel and in all Pimpernel and the roots of Butter-but which an eminent Doctor who out-lived his Brethren and the sore long Plague in Ireland thought he could not too often commend unto me upon his observations Sheepshead-broath above all was in esteem there perhaps as more appropriate to the parts affected though they had Chickens enow The Rich in every draught may drink twenty grains of Pearl and ten grains of Confectio de Hyacintho from the first assault of their natural Spirits besides their Sweat-drivers And the Poor be refreshed aswel with a draught of French-Wine and Water boyled with a blade of Mace and an ounce of burnt Hartshorn or clear Sack-Posset-drink made with a quarter of a pint of Sack and ten drops of Spirit of Sulphur to a pint of Milk In their Broath also of Sheepshead if they take my advice a spoonful of Vinegar sometimes may do well or four drops of the spirit of Sulphur about which the extravagant boast of Mindererus in his 18th Book de Pestilentia may with my own long experience of it excuse a sober commendation Of which and Spirit of Vitriol he thus speaketh There is no Putrifaction whose neck they break not no Infection which they do not overcome no pravity of Humours but they can conquer Verily to deal clearly if I should be forbidden or hindred from the use of Vitriolated Medicaments I should never come to cure the Plague or alwayes without my weapons I have also long used and commend this Tincture having found much good thereby Take Salts of Sage Hartshorn Ivory Wormwood and Rosemary equal parts of each put them into a Glass pour into them Spirit of Sulphur six ounces Spirit of Vitriol two ounces shake them often and let them stand for use close waxed Of this or the like as you can get them in dangerous obstructions turn Posset-drinks as aforesaid with eighty drops to two quarts of Milk Of late since the Contagion Ladded to my Glass as much Cochineel as it will drink and to the end that all my Spirits might not be suck'd up I added two parts of sage water a good spoonful hereof readily
needof Purging safe in violent suspition of Malignity having in addition to the three Ingreedients of Rufus the cordial friend of Spirit of Wine and Mastick to bridle it and eminently in that there is so little lucid Aloes of the four sorts that is vended by the Druggist and so much earth and dirt to the disadvantage of Pills both in it and ordinary Myrrh hereby separated from it the terrene and spurious corruption removed being as much almost in bulk as all was at first though spiritless and good for nothing but its center the Earth which should not therefore incumber any corner of a wise-man's stomach Besides this child is not only as nobly descended but of age to speak for it self sufficiently and hath done good service to many hundred surfeited crude and flegmatick stomachs more certainly Two or three Pills at night going to bed and a draught of warm Broath in the morning before you go abroad will make you in love therewith and you will find the difference if you still should be minded to try both for experiment A Pill for a Child suspected to have the Worms or to have been surfeited with Fruit or that hath a crude flegmatick stomach is very excellent in Syrup of Violets at night going to bed and what Pill can be better for old people on young who are weak consumptive sickly and obstructed but I publish it now rather for fear of grosser and dulâ—â—â— Purging at such a time of surfeiting c. by the very materials thereof and hope young Physicians will beware of any violent Purge in symptomes of Pestilence by which some have been lately purged away by them unawares and others hardly recovered but this can scarce have an evil effect for though it work not it will leave nothing behind yea they will find good that may never feel any motion thereof For such as cannot take any thing more medicinal a little Conserve of Roman-Wormwood or of Wood-sorrel alone in a morning or to have two ounces of Juniper-berries and a little Sage in each Kinderkin of Beer is profitable The English in Ireland found much benefit by the moderate use of Angelica and wormwood-Wormwood-Waters after meals and with a Toast in a spoonful in the morning those and Juniper-water so taken maybe profitable to cold stomachs especially in Winter or Coffee received with thanksgiving as I fear it too seldom is is exceeding wholsome for moist constitutions though the tipling tatling waste-time and wantonway therein is a high provocation to wrath from God a stage of wrong to men whereby also Professors shamefully neglect their Families and their own poor Souls to mourn at the last as Prov. 5. 11 12 13. French-Wines especially advantaged with Marigolds Clove-gilliflowers Juniper-berries Sage-flowers Bawm Rosemary-flowers Spanish-Angelica-roots roots of Sinkfoyl or of Burnet Zedoary Orris tops of Wormwood or the like as the party may affect and is able to attain may be very useful with moderation at meals c. the cask or bottle being first smoaked well with Sulphur and Vinegers of Elder-flowers Juniper-berries Marigolds Clove-gilli-flowers Sage-flowers Cowslip Taragon Mint Barberries tender shoots from the Orange-seeds c. to take in Broth or with Meat with their substances except the Juniper-berries which being put into the Vinegar whole may be taken out and new ones put in to carry about and ear as the Doctors direct Issues for corpulent and rheumatick persons men women and children were never more necessary and were used much to good advantage by the English in the Irish Infection foâ— want of which many suffer more than an aching-head of SMELLS Of Smells those are certainly best that being taken inwardly are proper for the heart and head the chief Seat of the malignity and suppress vapours too the chief are these Chymical Oyls of Rhue Wormwood Hartshorn Amber Thime or Origany Rosemary Chamomile Castor Juniper-berries the stinking Oyl of Sulphur Castor Camphir c. and that of Tar is a toy now in fashion but sweet-scented Pomanders were exploded of the learned Physicians long since as a costly mischief many wayes inconvenient Nor can any of the former in an Ivory-box more mischieve the brain by heat as Pomander-men prate yet the use of any are best avoided except for the present passando by Anoyance because by much use they open the pores and fit the more as they that come out of clear air to stinking and thick to receive in ill scents longer than they hold the other to their nose And of all fumes if I may not countenance the idle use thereof I might affirm and demonstrate Tobacco to be the best because it doth not vanish away quickly but possesseth and keepeth the place out of which it driveth other anoyances wherefore Gunpowder more quickly vanishing through its nitral part after long use of it in Ireland was left and Tobacco stood in lasting esteem as also Brimstone by it self which will abide whereas the Saltpeter-puff is gone in an instant and makes the Air so thin as way is sooner made thereby also for Infection if you stir abroad whereas experience shews that Tobacco where it is smoaked much will furnish a Room for continuance and they that take it will stink of it long I will now end this Subject with a word of advice to remove a very noisom cause of Infection viz. the multitude of dead Dogs and Cats that float on the River and lie on the Shoar as Wind and Tide serveth one of which is more infectious than as hundred alive which some already have sadly experienced and it 's feared more will daily unless timely removed FINIS